m 


LIBRARY     OF 

HENftr  £ 

CLAFLIN 

ABINGTON, 

MASS. 

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CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT 


BY 

LIEUT.  HUGH  T.  REED.,  U.  S.  A. 

AUTHOR  OF 

Military  Science  and  Tactics,  Etc. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


CHICAGO: 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


,"^ 


^ 


ALL.  RIGHTS   RESERVED. 

COPYRIGHT,   1836, 

BY   HUGH   T.   REED. 


§ttiicnttA 


TO   THE  DEAR   GIRLS    WHO  ADORE    THE  MILITARY.    ONE   OF 
WHOM   HAVING    PAID    THE    PENALTY    OF   HER    AD- 
MIRATION,  IS  NOW  MY  SUPERIOR  OFFICER, 


PREFACE. 


I  believe  it  to  be  well  established  that  the  men- 
tal habits  are  fully  as  strong  as  the  physical  hab- 
its of  man.  That  is,  thought  moves  in  grooves 
day  after  day  and  day  after  day  as  walks  in  life 
do.  The  habit  of  retrospectant  thought  fastened 
itself  upon  me  several  years  ago,  and  the  habit 
confined  itself  largely  and  almost  irresistibly  to 
my  life  at  West  Point.  My  reflections  became 
almost  realisms;  I  was  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
oblivious  of  the  intervening  years;  oblivious  of 
accumulated  griefs  and  sorrow^s,  of  successes  and 
of  contemporaneous  ambitions — I  was  indeed  a 
boy  again,  and  at  West  Point,  living  over  and  over 
and  over  again  all  the  scenes  leading  up  to  and 
creating  my  life  at  the  Nation's  Military  School. 

In  one  of  these  moods,  it  occurred  to  me,  entirely 
for  my  own  gratification,  and  possibly  to  dis- 
possess myself  of  the  habit  of  thinking  upon  the 
subject,  to  write  a  little  sketch  of  those  days.  I 
became  interested  in  the  w^ork,  and  the  pages  grew 
in  number  as  memory  served  me  with  inspiration 
for  my  narrative,  until  I  had  at  last  completed 
what  might  be  called  a  volume  of  reminiscences. 

As  an  amusement  for  him,  I  read  chapter  after 
chapter,  as  it  was  written,  to  a  favorite  nephew, 


8  PREFACE. 

and  when  the  manuscript  was  written  and  in  a 
temporary  binding,  I  loaned  it  to  this  young  rela- 
tive, who,  in  turn,  with  my  consent,  loaned  it  to 
friends  of  his,  and  it  was  read  by  these  youngsters 
and  passed  from  hand  to  hand.  I  could  not  help 
but  realize  the  interest  that  was  taken  by  these 
young  readers  in  what  I  had  so  carelessly  and  in- 
differently written,  but  at  the  same  time,  I  should 
never  have  undertaken  the  publication  of  my  notes 
if  my  nephew  had  not  attended  a  military  school 
and  bombarded  me  with  appeals  to  send  him  the 
old  manuscript,  so  that  his  comrades  might  read 
about  life  at  West  Point. 

The  old  manuscript  wouldn't  do,  so  I  edited  what 
I  had  written,  re-wrote  some  of  the  pages,  added 
a  few  lines  here  and  there,  and  finally  concluded 
to  publish  it  without  the  least  expectation  that 
it  will  interest  very  many  persons,  or  bring  me  any 
material  reward. 

I  have  tried  to  write  it  naturally  and  without 
any  attempt  at  literary  excellence,  and  beg  most 
respectfully  to  offer  it  to  the  public  as  a  grateful 
tribute  to  my  happiest  years. 

For  valuable  data  in  the  "table  showing  dispo- 
sition of  graduates,"  I  am  indebted  to  Captain 
Wilber  E.  Wilder,  4th  Cavalry,  Adjutant  of  the 
Military  Academy,  and  to  his  efficient  clerk,  Mr. 
William  Ward,  who  has  had  charge  of  Cadet  Rec- 
ords for  forty-five  years. 


INDEX. 


Chapter.  Page, 

I.     The  Appointment    13 

11.    The  Military  Academy   21 

III.  The  Preparation    35 

IV.  The  Candidate  41 

V.    The  Plebe  in  Camp 81 

VI.    The  Plebe  in  Barracks 109 

VII.    The  Yearling    149 

Vtll.    The  Purloughman   179 

IX.  The  Graduate    197 

X,  Appendix   i 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Bird's-eye  View  of  West  Point Frontispiece. 

"Might  be  a  Cadet" 11 

Trophy  Point   19 

Administration  Building   19 

Superintendent's   Quarters    19 

Topographical  Sketch  of  West  Point 33 

Battery  Knox   39 

Sea  Coast  Battery    39 

Siege  Battery   39 

First   Classmen    51 

Cadet  Room    51 

Furloughmen    51 

The  Chapel    51 

Setting  up  Exercises  61 

Mess  Hall   71 

9 


10  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Dining  Room    71 

Cadet  Barracks    71 

Cadet   Tent    83 

Fourth  of  July  Program 89 

Camp  McPherson  Hop  Invitation 95 

"Confirmed  Bachelors' "  Hop  Invitation 101 

The   Academic    107 

Theatrical  Program   125 

Cadet   Warrant    133 

Sedgwick  Monument   141 

Cadet  Monument  141 

Professors'   Row    141 

Camp  Geo.  H.  Thomas  Hop  Invitation 147 

Inspection  in  Camp 153 

Light  Artillery  Drill 153 

Gymnasium    161 

Library    161 

Theatrical    Entertainment    163 

Camp  Belknap  Hop  Invitation 181 

Graduating  Hop  Invitation  191 

Professors'   Row    195 

Flirtation  Walk  195 

Kosciuszco's  Garden   , 195 

Fourth   of   July   Program , 199 

Camp  Thayer  Hop  Invitation 203 

Cavalry  Drill    207 

Battalion  Marching  from  Camp  to  Barracks 207 

Guard  Mounting  in  Camp 213 

Color  Line   213 

Riding   Hall    217 

Battle  Monument 217 

Ponton     Bridge    217 

Concert  Program    223 

Inaugural  Ball  Invitation  at  Washington,  D.  C 224-5 

Graduating  Hop  Invitation  229 

West  Point  Diploma   233 

Cadets  at  the  World's  Fair,  Chicago 237 


•MIGHT     BE    A     CADET. 


CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  APPOINTMENT. 

I  WAS  not  more  than  eight  years  old  when 
I  first  heard  about  West  Point,  and  then  I 
was  told  that  it  was  Uncle  Sam's  Military 
School;  that  the  young  men  there  were  called 
cadets;  that  they  were  soldiers,  and  that  they 
wore  pretty  uniforms  with  brass  buttons  on  them. 
The  impression  made  upon  me  at  the  time  was 
such  that  I  never  tired  talking  and  asking  ques- 
tions about  West  Point.  I  soon  learned  to  indi- 
cate the  site  on  the  map,  and  I  longed  to  go 
there,  that  I  might  be  a  cadet  and  wear  brass  but- 
tons. I  talked  about  it  so  much  that  my  good 
mother  made  me  a  coat  generous  with  brass 
buttons.  I  called  it  my  cadet  coat,  and  wore  it 
constantly.  Ah!  for  the  day  I  should  be  a  big 
boy  and  be  a  real  cadet.  With  a  wooden  gun 
I  played  soldier,  and  when  the  war  broke  out  and 
the  soldiers  camped  in  cur  old  fair  grounds,  I  was 
in  their  camp  at  every  opportunity.  The  camp 
was  about  half-way  between  our  home  farm  and 

13 


14  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

father's  store  in  town,  and  many  is  the  time  I 
have  been  scolded  for  being  so  much  at  the 
camp.  My  only  regret  at  that  time  was  that  I 
was  not  old  enough  to  enlist,  for  I  loved  to  watch 
the  drills  and  linger  around  the  camp-fires,  lis- 
tening to  stories  of  the  war. 

I  learned  a  good  deal  from  the  soldiers  about 
West  Point.  They  told  me  that  I  could  not  go 
there  until  I  was  seventeen  years  old,  and  not 
then  unless  I  was  appointed  as  a  cadet  by  my 
congressman.  They  also  told  me  that  I  must  be 
a  good  boy  at  school  and  study  hard,  for  the 
reason  that  after  securing  the  appointment  I 
would  have  to  pass  a  rigid  examination  at  West 
Point  before  admission.  This  was  bad  news  to 
me,  because  we  farm  boys  never  attended  school 
longer  than  four  or  five  months  in  a  year.  For- 
tunately, however,  the  family  moved  to  "town" 
when  I  was  fourteen  years  old.  I  was  then  as- 
sured that  I  would  have  my  wish,  and  I  never 
missed  a  day  at  school.  I  was  so  anxious  to 
learn  rapidly  that  I  overtaxed  my  eyes,  and  was 
in  a  dark  room  for  nearly  a  year.  Still  I  did  not 
give  up  hope,  and  when  my  eyesight  permitted 
I  returned  to  school  again. 

I  found  out  that  there  could  be  only  one  cadet 
at  a  time  at  West  Point  from  the  same  congres- 
sional district,  and  also  that  there  was  then  a 
young  man  there  from  my  district;  still  I  had 
hopes  of  getting  there  myself  before  I  got  too  old, 
that  is,  over  twenty-one. 


THE    APPOINTMENT.  15 

One  day  I  saw  by  the  paper  that    the    Hon. 

G.  W.  J n  was  at  home  on  a  short  visit,  and 

I  knew  that  he  was  my  congressman,  hence  I 
wanted  to  go  at  once  to  see  him.  I  confided  in 
my  mother  and  obtained  her  permission  to  be 
absent  from  school  that  afternoon.  So  I  saddled 
old  John,  my  favorite  horse,  and  rode  six  miles 

to  Mr.  J n's  house.      He  was  at  home,  and 

was  very  kind  to  me.  He  asked  my  father's 
name,  and  also  my  name  and  age,  and  he  made 
a  note  of  my  address,  saying  that  he  might  write 
to  me  from  Washington.  He  also  said  that 
there  would  be  a  vacancy  at  West  Point,  from 
his  district,  the  next  year  in  June,  and  that  he 
would  make  the  appointment  soon;  that  I  was 
the  first  young  man  to  apply  for  the  place,  but 
if  anyone  who  had  serx'ed  in  the  war  applied  for 
the  cadetship  within  the  next  few  weeks  he  would 
appoint  him — that  such  a  person  could  be  just 
under  twenty-four  years  of  age.  Nevertheless, 
if  no  old  soldier  applied  he  would  appoint 
me,  as  he  knew  my  father  well.  He  then  said 
that  if  he  did  appoint  me  I  must  be  a  good 
student  the  next  year,  and  prepare  for  the 
examination  at  West  Point.  Upon  my  return 
home  I  did  not  talk  about  West  Point  any  more, 
nor  did  I  speak  to  any  one  except  my  mother 

about  having  seen  Mr.  J n,    and    I    had   five 

brothers  and  a  sister,  too! 

About  two  months  after  my  visit  to  Mr.  J n, 

I  received  a  letter  from   him,   taking   it   myself 


16  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

from  the  postoffice,  but,  alas,  the  writing  was  such 
that  I  could  not  read  it,  although  there  were 
but  eight  words  in  it,  so  I  hastened  with  it  to 
my  mother,  but  she  could  not  read  it,  either. 
Then  as  I  must  confide  in  another  person,  I  de- 
cided to  speak  to  my  father,  and  ask  him  to 
read  the  letter,  under  promise  that  he  would 
not  talk  about  West  Point  with  anyone  except  my 
mother  and  myself.  He  read  the  letter  at  once, 
and  said  that  the  writing  was  all  right,  but  that 

the  letter  did  not  mean  anything,  as  Mr.  J n 

had  probably  written  the  same  to  other  boys.  I 
did  not  believe  this,  and  was  surer  than  ever  of 
obtaining  the  appointment  Many  years  have 
passed  since  then,  but  the  words  of  that  letter  are 
still  fresh  in  my  memory.    They  are — 

"Please  inform  me  in  reply  your  exact  age." 

I  wanted  my  father  to  write  Mr.  J n  in  my 

behalf,  but  he  declined  to  do  so,  saying  that  he  did 
not  want  me  to  go  to  West  Point.  I  then  got  him 

to  promise  not  to  write  "that"  to  Mr.  J n,  and  I 

myself  answered  the  letter  by  return  mail. 

About  ten  days  after  this  I  received  another  let- 
ter from  the  congressman,  a  great  large  one,  in  a 
long  envelope,  and  all  I  could  read  of  that  was  "I 
have  recommended  you;"  but  that  was  enough, 
as  the  appointment  itself  was  enclosed  and  I  could 
read  it,  and  I  was  a  happy  boy.  I  ran  home  to  show 
the  appointment  to  my  mother,  and  then  to  the 
store  to  show  it  to  my  father  and  also  to  get  him 
to  read  the  letter  to  me,  which  was  as  follows: 


THE    APPOINTMENT.  17 

"I  have  recommended  you,  and  enclose  herewith  your  con- 
ditional appointment  as  a  cadet  to  West  Point,  together  with 
certain  other  papers  from  the  War  Department.  I  shall  now 
expect  you  to  prepare  yourself  for  the  examination  next  June, 
and  I  hope  you  will  graduate  with  high  honors,  and  that 
afterwards  you  will  he  loyal  and  useful  to  our  country." 


THE  APPOINTMENT. 
War  Department.* 

Washington,  18. . 

Sir:  You  are  hereby  informed,  that  the  President  has  con- 
ditionally selected  you  for  appointment  as  Cadet  of  the  United 
States  Military  Academy,  at  West  Point,  New  York. 

Should  you  desire  the  appointment,  you  will  report  in  person 

to  the  Superintendent  of  the  Academy  on  the  day  of 

,  18..,  for  examination.     If  it  be  found  that  you 

possess  the  qualifications  required  by  law  and  set  forth  in 
the  circulart  herewith,  you  will  be  admitted,  with  pay  from 
date  of  admission,  and  your  warrant  of  appointment  will  be 
delivered  to  you. 

Should  you  be  found  deficient  in  studies  at  the  semi-annual 
or  annual  examinations,  or  should  your  conduct  reports  be 
unfavorable,  you  will  be  discharged  from  the  military  service, 
unless  otherwise  recommended  for  special  reasons  by  the 
Academic  Board,  but  will  receive  an  allowance  for  traveling 
expenses  to  your  home. 

Your  attention  is  particularly  directed  to  the  accompany- 
ing circular,  and  it  is  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  this 
notification  confers  upon  you  no  right  to  enter  the  Military 
Academy  unless  your  qualifications  agree  fully  with  its  re- 
quirements, and  unless  you  report  for  examination  at  the 
time  specified. 


*This  is  to  be  presented  to  the  Adjutant  of  the  Military 
Academy  on  arrival  of  the  appointee,  i.  e.,  the  candidate,  at 
West  Point. 

tSee  Appendix,  pages  i  to  xii. 


18  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

You  are  requested  to  immediately  inform  the  Department 
of  your  acceptance  or  declination  of  the  contemplated  ap- 
pointment upon  the  above  conditions. 

Very  respectfully, 

To 

Secretary  of  War. 


, ,  18.. 

To  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War,* 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Sir:  I  hereby  respectfully  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
notification  of  my  contemplated  appointment  as  a  Cadet  of  the 
United  States  Military  Academy,  with  the  appended  circular, 
and  inform  you  of  my  acceptance  of  the  same  upon  the  con- 
ditions  named. 

I  certify,  on  honor,  that  I  was  born  at  , 

in  the  County  of  State  of  , 

on  the   day  of  18 . . ,  and  that  I  ha/e 

been  an  actual  resident  of  the Congressional  District  of 

for years  and  months. 

(Signature  of  appointee)  

I  hereby  assent  to  the  acceptance  by  my  of  his 

conditional  appointment  as  cadet  in  the  military  service,  and 
he  has  my  full  permission  to  sign  articles  binding  himself  to 
serve  the  United  States  eight  years,  unless  sooner  discharged. 

I  also  certify,  on  honor,  that  the  above  statements  are  true 
and  correct  in  every  particular. 

(Signature  of  parent  or  guardian)  


♦This  is  to  be  filled  out  and  mailed  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
soon  after  its  receipt  by  the  candidate. 


THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY.  21 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY. 

WEST  POINT,  the  property  of  the  United 
States,  is  in  the  state  of  New  York,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson  River  and 
about  fifty  miles  north  of  New  York  City.  The 
grounds  comprise  2,500  acres,  of  which  about  200 
acres  are  a  plain,  some  one  hundred  and  eighty 
feet  above  the  river,  the  balance  being  mountain- 
ous.    A  poet  has  happily  said: 

"Where  proud  and  free  the  Hudson  flows, 

Above  the  Highlands  grand, 
And  in  its  placid  bosom  shows 
The  charms  of  Nature's  hand." 

General  Washington  often  said  that  the  Na- 
tional Government  should  maintain  a  Military 
Academy,  and  in  his  message  to  Congress  in  1793 
he  recommended  the  founding  of  one  at  West 
Point,  New  York.  Referring  to  this  subject  in 
1796,  he  said: 

"The  institution  of  a  military  academy  is  also 
recommended  by  cogent  reasons.  However  pacific 
the  general  policy  of  a  nation  may  be,  it  ought 
never  to  be  without  an  adequate  stock  of  military 
knowledge  for  emergencies.  The  first  would  im- 
pair the  energy  of  its  character  and  both  hazard 
its  safety  and  expose  it  to  great  evils  when  war 


22  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

could  not  be  avoided.  Besides  that,  war  might 
not  often  depend  upon  its  own  choice.  In  pro- 
portion as  the  observance  of  pacific  maxims  might 
exempt  a  nation  from  the  necessity  of  practicing 
rules  of  military  art,  ought  to  be  the  case  in  pre- 
serving and  transmitting,  by  proper  establish- 
ments, the  knowledge  of  that  art.  Whatever  argu- 
ments may  be  drawn  from  particular  examples, 
superficially  received,  a  thorough  examination  of 
the  subject  will  evince  that  the  art  of  war  is  at 
once  comprehensive  and  complicated,  that  it  de- 
mands much  previous  study,  and  that  the  posses- 
sion of  it  in  its  most  approved  and  perfect  state 
is  of  gi'eat  moment  to  the  security  of  a  nation." 

The  result  of  this  and  other  recommendations 
was  that  the  United  States  Military  Academy  was 
founded  by  Act  of  Congress,  approved  March  16, 
1802,  and  the  Military  Academy  is  practically  all 
there  is  to  West  Point,  and  ever  since  then  it  has 
been  maintained  by  annual  appropriations  of 
Congress.  The  expenditures*  on  the  buildings  and 
grounds  have  already  been  more  than  |4,000,000, 
and  all  for  the  prime  object  of  educating  profes- 
sional soldiers.  Up  to  October  1,  1896,  7,798 
young  men  have  been  admitted  to  the  Military 
Academy;  3,725,  having  failed,  have  been  dis- 
charged; 332,  including  one  from  Venezuela,  South 
America,  receiving  instruction  under  a  joint  reso- 

♦General  George  W.  Cullum  graduated  at  the  Academy  in 
1833  and  when  he  died  he  left  about  a  quarter  of  a  million 
dollars  to  the  Academy  and  the  Cullum  Memorial  Hall  is  now 
under  construct! 


THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY.  23 

lution  of  Congress,  approved  December  22,  1892, 
are  now  cadets,  and  the  balance,  3,741,  have  been 
graduated.*  In  speaking  of  the  graduates  the 
Hon.  Charles  S.  Fairchlld,  of  New  York,  has  well 
said  that  "That  roll,  which,  when  told  over,  excites 
patriotic  enthusiasm,  and  calls  forth  high  emotion 
beyond  that  of  the  roll  of  any  like  institution  in 
the  world." 

The  Military  Academy  is  governed  by  an  Aca- 
demic Board,  composed  of  twelve  members,  eight 
of  whom  are  professors  holding  life  appointments 
as  such,  while  the  other  four  are  army  officers  de- 
tailed for  duty  at  the  Academy. 

THE   ACADEMIC   BOARD. 

1.  Superintendent. 

2.  Commandant  of  Cadets  and  Instructor  of 
Tactics. 

3.  Professor   of   Natural   and    Experimental 
Philosophy. 

4.  Professor  of  Drawing. 

5.  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

6.  Professor  of  Chemistry,   Mineralogy   and 
Geology. 

7.  Professor  of  Modern  Languages. 

8.  Professor  of  Law. 

9.  Professor  of  Civil  and  Military  Enginee-r- 
ing. 


♦See  Appendix,  "table  showing  disposition  of  candidates." 


24  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

10.  Professor  of  History,  Geography  and 
Ethics,  who  is  also  the  Chaplain. 

11.  Instructor  of  Practical  Military  Engineer- 
ing. 

12.  Instructor  of  Ordnance  and  Gunnery. 

The  senior  assistant  in  each  department  of  in- 
struction shall  be  a  member  of  the  Academic 
Board  or  of  a  committee  of  it,  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  cadets,  arranging  them  in  order  of 
merit,  and  determining  their  proficiency  or  defi- 
ciency in  every  branch  of  study  in  that  depart- 
ment; and  the  instructor  of  any  section  under  ex- 
amination or  consideration  shall  be  a  member  of 
the  Academic  Board  or  of  a  committee  of  it,  for 
the  purpose  of  examining  the  section  and  arrang- 
ing it  in  order  of  merit. 

All  dvt^liberations  and  decisions  of  the  Academic 
Board  and  of  its  committees,  and  expressions  of 
opinion  and  votes,  individual  or  collective,  of  mem- 
bers thereof  shall  be  confidential.  The  decisions 
of  the  Board  are  published  in  orders. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the 
Academic  Board  and  their  assistants,  as  it  stood 
on  June  1,  1896,  to  wit: 

SUPERINTENDENT.* 
Col.  O.  H.  Ernst,  Lieut.-Colonel,  Corps  of  Engineers. 

MILITARY  STAFF.* 
Capt.  Wilber  E.  Wilder,  4th  Cavalry,  adjutant  of  the  Mili- 


*These  officers  are  usually  changed  every  four  years,  part 
one  year  and  part  another, 


THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY.  25 

tary  Academy  and  of  the  post;  recruiting  ofllcer;  commanding 
band  and  detachment  of  field  music. 

Capt.  William  F.  Spurgin,  21st  Infantry,  treasurer  of  the 
Military  Academy,  and  quartermaster  and  commissary  of 
cadets. 

Capt.  John  B,  Bellinger,  Assistant  Quartermaster,  U.  S.  A., 
quartermaster  of  the  Military  Academy  and  of  the  post;  dis- 
bursing officer. 

First  Lieut.  Harrington  K.  West,  6th  Cavalry,  commissary 
and  treasurer;  in  charge  of  post  exchange. 

First  Lieut.  William  Wiegel,  11th  Infantry,  assistant  to  the 
quartermaster  and  officer  of  police. 

Maj.  George  H.  Torney,  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  surgeon. 

Capt.  Charles  F.  Mason,  Assistant  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A. 

Capt.  Charles  Willcox,  Assistant  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A 

ACADEMIC  STAFF. 
Professors  whose  service  at  the  Academy,  as  professor,  ex- 
ceeds 10  years,  have  the  assimilated  rank  of  colonel,  and  all 
other  professors  the  assimilated  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel. 

DEPARTMENT     OF     NATURAL     AND     EXPERIMENTAL 
PHILOSOPHY. 

Peter  S.  Michie,  professor  (Feb.  14,  1871). 

Capt.  William  B.  Gordon,  Ordnance  Dept.,  assistant  pro- 
fessor.* 

First  Lieut.  Samuel  E.  Allen,  5th  Artillery;  First  Lieut. 
Lucien  G.  Berry,  4th  Artillery,  instructors.* 

First  Lieut.  Samuel  D.  Freeman,  10th  Cavalry,  in  charge  of 
Observatory  and  astronomical  observations.* 

DEPARTMENT  OF  DRAWING. 

Charles  W.  Larned,  professor  (July  25,  1876), 

First  Lieut.  Austin  H.  Brown,  4th  Infantry,  assistant  pro- 
fessor.* * 

Second  Lieut.  Charles  B.  Hagadorn,  23d  Infantry;  Second 
Lieut.  Horace  M.  Reeve,  3d  Infantry,  instructors.* 

Edgar  W.  Bass,  professor  (April  17,  1878). 


*These  officers  are  usually  changed  every  four  years,  part 
one  year  and  part  another. 


06  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  MATHEMATICS. 

tWright  P.  Edgerton,  associate  professor  (July  1,  1893). 

First  Lieut.  Daniel  B.  Devore,  23d  Infantry,  assistant  pro- 
fessor.* 

First  Lieut.  John  D.  Barrette,  3d  Artillery;  First  Lieut. 
Charles  D,  Palmer,  3d  Artillery;  First  Lieut.  John  S.  Winn, 
1st  Cavalry;  First  Lieut.  Charles  P.  Echols,  Corps  of  Engineers; 
Second  Lieut.  William  O.  Johnson,  19th  Infantry;  Second 
Lieut.  William  M.  Cruikshank,  1st  Artillery;  Second  Lieut. 
John  H.  Rice,  3d  Cavalry,  instructors.* 

DEPARTMENT     OF     CHEMISTRY,     MINERALOGY     AND 
GEOLOGY. 

Samuel  E.  Tillman,  professor  (Dec.  21,  1880). 

First  Lieut.  Richmond  P.  Davis,  2d  Artillery,  assistant  pro- 
fessor.* 

First  Lieut.  Edgar  Russel,  5th  Artillery;  Second  Lieut. 
Palmer  E.  Pierce,  6th  Infantry;  Second  Lieut.  William  R. 
Smith,  1st  Artillery,  instructors.* 

DEPARTMENT   OF  TACTICS.* 

Lleut.-Col.  Samuel  M.  Mills,  Captain  5th  Artillery,  com- 
mandant of  cadets  and  instructor  of  tactics. 

Capt.  James  Parker,  4th  Cavalry,  senior  instructor  of  cav- 
alry tactics. 

First  Lieut.  Alexander  B.  Dyer,  4th  Artillery,  senior  in- 
structor of  artillery  tactics. 

First  Lieut.  Granger  Adams,  5th  Artillery,  assistant  in- 
structor of  tactics,  commanding  company  of  cadets. 

First  Lieut.  Wilds  P.  Richardson,  8th  Infantry,  senior  in- 
structor of  infantry  tactics. 

First  Lieut.  William  H.  Allaire,  23d  Infantry,  assistant  in- 
structor of  tactics,  commanding  company  of  cadets. 

First  Lieut.  Willard  A.  Holbrook,  7th  Cavalry,  assistant 
instructor  of  tactics,  commanding  company  of  cadets. 

First  Lieut.  Robert  L.  Howze,  6th  Cavalry,  assistant  in- 
structor of  tactics,  commanding  company  of  cadets. 


tAssociate  professor  with  rank  of  captain. 
*These  officers  are  usually  changed  every  four  years,  part 
one  year  and  part  another. 


THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY.  t1 

Second  Lieut.  Matthew  C.  Butler,  Jr.,  5th  Cavalry,  assist- 
ant instructor  of  cavalry  tactics. 

DEPARTMENT  OP  MODERN  LANGUAGES. 

Edward  E.  Wood,  professor  (Oct.  1,  1892). 

First  Lieut.  Cornelis  DeW.  Willcox,  2d  Artillery,  assistant 
professor  of  the  Spanish  language.* 

First  Lieut.  Arthur  F.  Curtis,  2d  Artillery,  assistant  pro- 
fessor*of  the  French  language.* 

First  Lieut.  William  S.  Biddle,  Jr.,  14th  Infantry;  First 
Lieut.  Peter  E.  Traub,  1st  Cavalry;  First  Lieut.  Marcus  D. 
Cronin,  25th  Infantry;  Second  Lieut.  Samuel  C.  Hazzard,  1st 
Artillery;  Second  Lieut.  Edward  B.  Cassatt,  4th  Cavalry,  in- 
stmctors  ^ 

DEPARTMENT  OF  LAW. 

George  B.  Davis,  Lieut.-Col.  and  Deputy  Judge  Advocate 
General,  U.  S.  A.,  professor  (Aug.  20,  1895).  (By  assignment 
under  act  of  June  6,  1874.) 

First  Lieut.  James  A.  Cole,  6th  Cavalry,  assistant  professor.* 

Second  Lieut.  Walter  A.  Bethel,  4th  Artillery,  instructor.* 
DEPARTMENT  OF  CIVIL  AND  MILITARY  ENGINEERING. 

Gustav  J.  Fiebeger,  professor  (May  4,  1896). 

First  Lieut.  Henry  C.  Newcomer,  Corps  of  Engineers,  assist- 
ant professor.* 

First  Lieut.   Thomas  B.  Rees,  Corps  of  Engineers;    First 
Lieut.  Francis  R.  Shunk,  Corps  of  Engineers,  instructors.* 
DEPARTMENT    OF    PRACTICAL    MILITARY   ENGINEER- 
ING.* 

Capt.  James  L.  Lusk,  Corps  of  Engineers,  instructor. 

First  Lieut.  E.  Eveleth  Winslow,  Corps  of  Engineers;  Sec- 
ond Lieut.  Jay  J.  Morrow,  Corps  of  Engineers,  assistant  in- 
structors. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  ORDNANCE  AND  GUNNERY.* 

Capt.  Lawrence  L.  Bruff,  Ordnance  Department,  instructor. 

First  Lieut.  Edwin  B.  Babbitt,  Ordnance  Department;  Sec- 
ond Lieut.  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.,  3d  Artillery,  assistant  in- 
structors. 


♦These  oflBcers  are  usually  changed  every  four  years,  part 
one  year  and  part  another. 


28  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

CHAPLAIN. 
Rev.  Herbert  Shipman  (April  25,  1896). 


Herman  J.  Koehler,  master  of  the  sword. 
George  Essigke,  teacher  of  music. 

ACADEMIC    YEAR. 

The  academic  year  commences  on  July  1st.  On 
or  before  that  date  the  result  of  the  examination 
held  in  the  preceding  month  is  announced,  and 
cadets  are  advanced  from  one  class  to  another. 
At  no  other  time  shall  a  cadet  be  advanced  from 
one  class  to  another,  unless  prevented  by  sickness, 
or  authorized  absence,  from  attending  at  the  afore- 
said examination,  in  which  case  a  special  exam- 
ination shall  be  granted  him ;  but  in  no  case  shall 
a  cadet  be  advanced  from  one  class  to  another 
without  having  passed  a  satisfactory  examina- 
tion by  the  Academic  Board. 

By  reference  to  the  "Table  showing  the  dispo- 
sition of  candidates"  (in  the  Appendix),  it  may  be 
observed  that  there  was  no  "academic  year"  prior 
to  1812.  It  was  in  this  year  that  an  Act  of  Con- 
gress was  approved  by  the  President,  requiring 
all  candidates  to  pass  an  examination,  satisfactory 
to  the  "Academic  Board,"  in  reading,  writing  and 
arithmetic,  before  being  admitted  to  the  Academy. 
This  Act  remained  in  force  until  1866,  when  the 
law  now  in  operation  was  enacted. 

Cadets  found  deficient  at  the  January  examina- 
tions are  invariably  discharged  or  permitted  to 
resign,  while  some  of  the  unfortunates  at  the  June 


THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY.  29 

examinations  are  turned  back,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  "table"  above  referred  to.  Since  1812  the 
Course  of  Study*  has  been  four  years,  except  that 
in  1854-5  and  6  it  was  five. 

CLASSIFICATION    OF    CADETS. 

The  number  of  cadets  authorized  by  law  to  be  at 
the  Academy  is  371,  but  the  number  present  varies 
betw^een  300  and  350,  and  they  are  arranged  in 
four  distinct  classes,  corresponding  with  the  four 
years  of  study.  The  cadets  employed  on  the  first 
year's  course  constitute  the  Fourth  Class;  those 
on  the  second  year's  course  the  Third  Class;  those 
on  the  third  Year's  course  the  Second  Class,  and 
those  on  the  fourth  year's  course  the  First  Class. 

BATTALION   ORGANIZATION. 

For  instruction  in  infantry  tactics  and  in  mili- 
tary police  and  discipline,  the  cadets  are  organ- 
ized into  a  battalion  of  four  companies,  under  the 
commandant  of  cadets,  each  company  being  com- 
manded by  an  officer  of  the  army.  The  officers 
and  non-commissioned  officers  are  selected  from 
those  cadets  who  have  been  most  studious,  soldier- 
like in  their  performance  of  their  duties,  and  most 
exemplary  in  their  general  deportment  In  gen- 
eral, the  officers  are  taken  from  the  first  class;  the 
sergeants  from  the  second  class,  and  the  corporals 
from  the  third  class 

No  commissions  are  issued  to  cadet  captains  or 
lieutenants,  and  no  warrants  are  issued  to  cadet 

*See  Course  of  Study  in  the  Appendix. 


so  •    CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

sergeants  or  corporals;  the  captain  named  first  in 
the  order  ranks  those  named  after  him,  and  the 
same  rule  applies  to  lieutenants,  sergeants  and 
corporals.  One  of  the  sergeants  is  designated  as 
color-sergeant,  and  seven  of  the  corporals  are  des- 
ignated as  color-corporals. 

CADET  OFFICERS  AND  NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS.* 

"A"  "B"  "C"  "D" 

CAPTAINS. 

A.  G.  Lott.i  G.  T.  Summerlln.s     E.  R,  Heiberg,*       G.  M.  Hoffman.^ 

LIEUTENANTS. 

E.  L.  King,  Adjutant.  H.  Y.  Grubbs,  Quartermaster. 

G.  H.  Shelton.2         S,  M.  Kochersperger.i    C.  H.  McNeil,*      R.  E.  Callan,* 
D.  N.  Hood,6  I.  Newell,*  H.  F.  Jackson,^    P.  W.  Lewis,' 

L.  R.  Holbrook.io     C.  McK.  Saltzman,*       S.  V.  McClure,i2  D.  E.  Nolan." 


S.  A.  Cheney,  Sergeant-Major.        C.  D.  Roberts,  Quartermaster-Sergeant. 

FIRST    SERGEANTS. 

H,  S.  Morgan.i        F.  H.  Pope,*  J.  C.  Oakes,^  P.  A.  Murphy,* 

SERGEANTS. 

H.  Dorey,!  M.  E.  Hanna,'         L.  C.  Wolf,*  J.  C.  Raymond,^ 

W.  D.  Connor,*        F.  R.  McCoy,»  R.  E.  Longan.^  E.  T.  Conley,^ 

W.  D.  Newbill.io      S.  M.  Milliken.12      J.  N.  Munro,"  E.  O.  Sarratt,* 

H.  B.  Ferguson,"   w.  S.  Valentine,^*  M.  C.  Buckey,"  C.  H.  Miller." 

CORPORALS. 
M.  Craig,*  G.    V.    Henry,  Jr.^       R.  C.  Davis,*         W.  F.  Nesbitt,^ 

W.  P.  Wooten,''       F.  C.  Boggs,  Jr.^  E.  D.  Bricker,^     C.  S.  Babcock,* 

L.  W.  Jordan,  Jr."G.  R.  Hancock,*  E.  N.  Benchley,"J.  C.  Nicholls."> 

J.  E.  Stephens,"     N.  R.  Chambliss,  Jr."  H.  L.  Newbold,"  C.  S.  Smith, ^2 
M.  C.  Kerth,"  M.  McCloskey.'o  j.  b.  Gowen,^*       A.  E.  Williams.i* 

Cadet  rank  is  indicated  by  chevrons,t  as  follows: 
For  a  Captain,  J  4  bars. 


♦Appointments  in  force  June  1,  1896.  The  figures  indicate 
relative  rank. 

tChevrons  are  made  of  gold  lace  %  inch  wide;  sewed  on 
dark  blue  cloth  with  %  inch  intervals  between  the  bars. 

tWorn  above  the  elbows,  points  up. 


I 


THE    MILITARY    ACADEMY.  31 

For  the  Adjutant,  J  3  bars  and  an  arc  of  3  bars. 

For  the  Quartermaster,  %  3  bars  and  a  tie  of  3 
bars. 

For  a  Lieutenant,  J  3  bars. 

For  the  Sergeant-Major,  %  2  bars  and  an  are  of  2 
bars. 

For  the  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  t  2  bars  and 
a  tie  of  2  bars. 

For  a  First  Sergeant,  %  2  bars  and  a  lozenge. 

For  the  Color- Sergeant,  %  2  bars  and  a  star. 

For  a  Sergeant,  t  2  bars. 

For  a  Color-Corporal,  t  2  bars  and  a  star. 

For  a  Corporal,  t  2  bars. 

BOARD  OF  VISITORS. 


There  shall  be  appointed  every  year,  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  a  Board  of  Visitors  to  attend  the 
annual  examination  of  the  Academy.  Seven  per- 
sons shall  be  appointed  by  the  President,  and  two 
Senators  and  three  members  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives shall  be  designated  as  visitors  by  the 
Vice-President  or  the  President  pro  tempore  of  the 
Senate  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, respectively,  at  the  session  of  Congress 
next  preceding  such  examination. — [Section  1327, 
Revised  Statutes  of  the  United  States.] 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  to 
'inquire  into  the  actual  state  of  the  discipline,  in- 
structions, police  administration,  fiscal  affairs  and 

tWorn  above  the  elbows,  points  up. 
fWom  below  the  elbows,  points  up. 


32  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

other  concerns  of  the  Academy.  The  visitors  ap- 
pointed by  the  President  shall  report  thereon  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  for  the  information  of  Con- 
gress, at  the  commencement  of  the  session  next 
succeeding  such  examination,  and  the  Senators 
and  Representatives  designated  as  visitors  shall 
report  to  Congress,  within  twenty  days  after  the 
meeting  of  the  session  next  succeeding  the  time 
of  their  appointment,  their  action  as  such  visitors, 
with  their  views  and  recommendations  concerning 
the  Academy. — [Section  1328,  Revised  Statutes  of 
the  United  States.] 

No  compensation  shall  be  made  to  the  members 
of  said  Board  beyond  the  payment  of  their  expen- 
ses for  board  and  lodging  while  at  the  Academy, 
and  an  allowance  not  exceeding  eight  cents  a  mile 
for  traveling,  by  the  shortest  mail  route,  from 
their  respective  homes  to  the  Academy,  and  thence 
to  their  homes. — [Section  1329,  Revised  Statutes 
of  the  United  States.] 

The  expenses  allowed  by  section  thirteen  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  of  the  Revised  Statutes  shall 
be  paid  as  follows:  Each  member  of  the  Board  of 
Visitors  shall  receive  not  exceeding  eight  cents  per 
mile  traveled,  by  the  most  direct  route,  from  his 
residence  to  West  Point  and  return,  and  shall,  in 
addition,  receive  five  dollars  per  day  for  expenses 
during  each  day  of  his  service  at  West  Point. — 
[Act  of  Congress,  approved  March  3,  1877.] 


THE    PREPARATION.  35 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    PREPARATION. 

AFTER  examining  the  papers  received  from 
the  War  Department,  I  found  one  that  re- 
quired my  father's  signature  before  I  my- 
self could  accept  the  appointment.  My  parents 
both  objected  to  my  leaving  home,  and  therefore 
did  not  wish  me  to  go  to  West  Point.  I  argued 
that  I  wanted  to  go  to  college  somewhere,  and 
why  not  let  me  go  where  Uncle  Sam  paid  the  bills. 
At  last  I  won  my  mother  on  my  side,  and  then  my 
father,  seeing  that  my  heart  was  so  fixed,  signed 
the  paper  requiring  his  signature,  and  mailed  it 
to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War,  Washington, 
D.  C.  This  done  I  let  the  secret  out,  and  all  of  my 
boy  friends  wanted  to  know  how  I  had  gotten  the 
appointment.  I  told  part,  but  I  did  not  tell  just 
how  I  did  get  it. 

After  seeing  the  kind  of  examination*  I  would 
have  to  pass  at  West  Point  the  next  year,  my 
father  decided  to  send  me  to  the  High  School  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  to  send  my  brother  Char- 
ley there  with  me  to  prepare  him  for  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan.     We  entered  the  High  School 


♦See  Appendix,  pages  1  to  xii. 


36  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

early  in  September.  About  two  weeks  afterward 
the  University  of  Michigan  (also  at  Ann  Arbor) 
opened,  and  we  observed  that  many  of  the  can- 
didates for  the  freshman  class  seemed  no  farther 
advanced  than  we  thought  ourselves,  so  we  ap- 
plied, were  examined,  and  admitted  to  the  Uni- 
versity. I  thought  that  if  I  failed  at  West  Point 
I  could  return  and  graduate  at  the  University  in 
three  instead  of  four  years. 

There  was  a  tall  young  man  from  Tennessee, 
who  entered  the  High  School  with  us,  and  after- 
ward entered  the  University,  too.  He,  like  myself, 
had  an  appointment  to  West  Point,  and  was  going 
there  the  next  June,  so  we  became  friends  at  once, 
and  he  and  I  agreed  to  study  after  Christmas  for 
the  West  Point  examination.  After  the  sopho- 
mores quit  hazing,  all  went  well  with  us,  and  the 
year  soon  passed.  I  left  Ann  Arbor  on  the  last 
day  of  April  to  return  home  via  Lakes  Huron  and 
Michigan,  and  went  to  Detroit  to  take  the  first 
steamer  of  the  season  around  the  lakes  to  Chicago. 
Upon  arriving  in  Detroit,  I  heard  that  there  was 
to  be  a  muster  and  inspection  of  a  regiment  of 
United  States  troops  out  at  Fort  Wayne,  a  short 
ride  from  Detroit,  and  as  I  was  to  be  a  soldier,  I 
went  to  see  the  sight.  As  I  looked  at  the  troops 
(the  First  U.  S.  Infantry),  I  thought  that  I  would 
like  to  be  an  officer  of  that  regiment  when  I  gradu- 
ated from  West  Point,  and  singularly  enough  my 
wish  was  gratified.  I  remained  so  long  at  Fort 
Wayne  that  the  boat  had  departed  when  I  returned 


THE   PREPARATION.  37 

to  Detroit,  so  I  took  train  and  overtook  the  boat 
at  Port  Huron.  While  there  I  went  to  see  Fort 
Gratiot,  and  strange  to  say,  that  was  subsequently 
my  first  army  station.  When  the  steamer  stopped 
at  Mackinaw  I  visited  the  fort  that  was  there  at 
that  time. 

After  my  return  home  I  reviewed  the  studies 
I  was  to  be  examined  on  in  a  few  weeks,  and  then 
started  east.  I  promised  my  father  if  I  failed  to 
pass  the  examination  that  I  would  return  home 
at  once.  Arriving  in  the  great  city  of  New  York 
I  took  passage  on  the  day  steamer  "Mary  Powell," 
and  was  charmed  with  the  scenery  along  the  Hud- 
son. The  first  stop  was  at  the  south  landing  at 
West  Point.  I  was  on  the  upper  deck  at  the  time, 
and  after  seeing  my  trunk  put  ashore,  I  walked 
leisurely  downstairs  to  disembark  and  to  my  great 
surprise  the  boat  was  fifty  feet  or  more  from  shore 
when  I  got  down.  I  thought  that  all  steamers  made 
long  stops,  for  the  only  other  boat  that  I  had  ever 
been  on  stopped  for  many  hours  every  time  she 
landed.  The  captain  would  not  let  me  off  and  said 
that  I  could  get  off  at  Cornwall  and  take  a  down 
boat  the  same  evening.  I  was  satisfied  and  Avent 
on  the  upper  deck  again  and  saw  the  passengers 
who  had  landed  get  into  the  West  Point  Hotel 
'bus.  All  the  trunks  except  mine  were  put  on  the 
top  of  the  'bus,  and  it  was  then  driven  up  the  hill, 
leaving  my  trunk  all  alone  on  the  dock. 

When  the  steamer  stopped  at  Cornwall  I  this 
time  promptly  stepped  ashore,    It  was  about  sui^- 


38 


CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


set  There  were  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  build- 
ings in  sight  and  not  a  soul  at  the  dock,  and  I  was 
the  only  passenger  landing  at  that  point.  I  went 
to  one  of  the  houses  and  inquired  the  location  of 
the  hotel,  and  I  was  informed  that  it  was  not  open 
as  it  was  too  early  for  summer  visitors.  I  then 
asked  what  time  the  down  boat  was  due,  and  was 
informed  that  it  would  be  along  soon,  but  that  it 
would  not  stop.  The  West  Shore  Railroad  was 
not  built  at  that  time,  and  as  there  was  no  stage 
line  over  the  mountains  nor  ferry  on  the  river,  I 
began  to  fear  that  I  could  not  get  away  by  the 
tenth  of  June,  the  last  day  for  me  to  report.  This 
bothered  me  more  than  the  hotel  accommodations, 
but  I  soon  found  obliging  people  and  arranged  for 
my  lodging  and  breakfast,  and  also  to  be  rowed 
to  my  destination  the  next  day. 


THE   CANDIDATE.  41 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   CANDIDATE. 
"As  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree  is  inclined." 

IT  WAS  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  June 
8, 18 — ,  when  I  stepped  from  a  rowboat  on  the 
dock  near  the  Sea  Coast  Battery  at  West 
Point.  The  weather  was  perfect,  and  my  heart 
was  light  and  free.  As  there  was  neither  any  per- 
son nor  conveyance  at  the  dock,  I  followed  the  road 
winding  up  the  hill  to  the  plain.  I  stopped  to  ad- 
mire the  scenery.  In  front  I  beheld  a  level  green 
plain  of  one  hundred  acres  or  more  with  massive 
buildings  peeping  through  the  large  elm  trees  that 
fringe  two  sides  of  the  plain ;  on  either  side  were 
high  hills;  in  my  rear  rolled  the  majestic  Hudson 
between  the  Highlands,  with  Siege  Battery  at  my 
feet.  As  I  gazed  around  it  was  to  me  then,  as  it  is 
to  me  now,  the  most  beautiful  of  places. 

I  found  my  way  to  the  Adjutant's  office  in  the 
Administration  Building  and  reported.  I  w^as 
courteously  received  and  handed  the  "Instruc- 
tions to  Candidates"*  to  read.  I  stated  the  fact 
of  my  trunk  having  been  put  ashore  on  the  south 
dock  and  of  the  Mary  Powell  carrying  me  to  Corn- 

*See  Appendix,  page  xiii. 


42  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

wall  the  previous  evening,  and  I  was  told  that  my 
trunk  had  undoubtedly  been  taken  to  the  hotel, 
as  there  was  then  (and  now  is)  but  one  hotel  at  the 
Point.  And  I  was  also  informed  that  my  trunk 
would  be  sent  to  the  Cadet  Barracks.  After  I  had 
complied  with  the  instructions,  an  orderly,  at  the 
sound  of  a  bell,  entered  and  was  directed  to  escort 
me  to  the  barracks.  In  going  through  the  area  we 
passed  some  cadets  and  I  overheard  such  remarks 
as  "He'll  learn  to  button  his  coat."  At  the  order- 
ly's suggestion  I  buttoned  my  coat  He  took  me 
into  a  hall,  said  "This  is  the  door,"  laid  down  my 
valise  and  left  me.  The  door  was  the  first  one  on 
the  right  of  the  eighth  division,  how  well  I  remem- 
ber it.  I  knocked  on  the  door,  and  heard  a  com- 
manding voice  say  "Come  in!"  With  valise  and 
umbrella  in  one  hand  and  cap  in  the  other  I  en- 
tered. There  were  two  cadets  in  the  room  seated 
near  a  table,  and  before  I  had  a  chance  to  speak  I 
was  greeted  about  as  follows:  "Leave  your  things 
in  the  hall.  Don't  you  know  better  than  to  bring 
them  in  here?"  I  stepped  into  the  hall,  left  the 
door  open,  and  while  looking  for  a  suitable  place 
to  put  my  things  (for  there  was  neither  a  hook  nor 
a  table),  one  of  these  two  cadets  cried  out :  "Lay 
them  on  the  floor  and  come  in,  and  don't  be  all  day 
about  it,  either.  Move  lively,  I  say.  Shut  the  door. 
Stand  there.  Come  to  attention.  Put  your  heels 
together,  turn  out  your  toes,  put  your  hands  by 
your  side,  palms  to  the  front,  fingers  closed,  little 
fingers  on  the  seams  of  the  trousers,  head  up,  chiu 


I 


THE    CANDIDATE.  43 

in,  shoulders  thrown  back,  chest  out,  draw  in  your 
belly,  and  keep  your  eyes  on  this  tack."  While  one 
cadet  was  giving  commands  with  great  rapidity, 
the  other  one  fixed  my  feet,  hands,  head  and  shoul- 
ders. "What's  your  name?  Put  a  Mr.  before  it. 
How  do  you  spell  it?  What's  your  first  name? 
Spell  it.  What's  your  middle  name?  Have  none? 
W^hat  state  are  you  from?  What  part?  Put  a  sir 
on  every  answer.  Where's  your  trunk?  Don^t 
know^?  Didn't  you  bring  one?  Put  on  a  sir;  how 
often  do  you  want  me  to  speak  about  it?"  I  ex- 
plained how  my  trunk  and  I  had  arrived  at  differ- 
ent times.  "You're  too  slow.  You'll  never  get 
along  here.  Keep  your  eyes  on  that  tack,  turn  the 
palms  of  your  hands  squarely  to  the  front.  Did  you 
bring  all  of  the  articles  marked  'thus'?  You  don't 
know  what  they  are?  Put  on  a  sir,  I  tell  you. 
Didn't  you  get  a  circular  telling  what  articles  you 
should  bring?  Didn't  you  read  it?  Now  answer 
me;  did  you  bring  the  articles  marked  'thus'? 
Well,  why  didn't  you  say  so  at  first?  Keep  your 
eyes  on  that  tack."  A  wagon  drove  up  and  put  a 
trunk  on  the  porch  near  the  window.  "About  face ! 
Turn  around  the  other  way.  Don't  you  know  any- 
thing? Is  that  your  trunk?  It  is,  is  it?  Now,  let's 
see  you  'about  face'  properly.  Steady.  At  the  word 
'about'  turn  on  the  left  heel,  turning  the  left  toe 
to  the  front,  carrying  the  right  foot  to  the  rear,  the 
hollow  opposite  to  and  three  inches  from  the  left 
heel,  the  feet  perpendicular  to  each  other.  Don't 
look  at  your  feet.    Head  up.    Stand  at  'attention' 


44  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

till  I  give  the  command.  Now,  'about.'  (One  of  the 
cadets  fixed  my  feet.)  At  the  word  'face'  turn  on 
both  heels,  raise  the  toe  a  little,  face  to  the  rear, 
when  the  face  is  nearly  completed,  raise  the  right 
foot  and  replace  it  by  the  left  Now,  'face.'  Ah! 
turn  on  both  heels.  Fix  your  eyes  on  that  tack 
again.  Draw  in  your  hellj.  Throw  back  your 
shoulders  and  stand  up  like  a  man.  Now,  'left, 
face.'  Don't  you  know  your  left  hand  from  your 
right?  Face  that  door;  open  it.  Ah!  why  don't 
you  step  off  with  the  left  foot  first?  Pick  up  your 
things,  follow  me,  and  move  lively."  My  back  was 
nearly  broken,  and  I  was  glad  to  get  out  of  that 
room.  After  going  a  few  steps  on  the  broad  porch 
on  the  area  side  of  barracks,  a  young  man  in  civil- 
ian clothes  came  out  of  the  next  hallway  carrying 
the  palms  of  his  hands  to  the  front.    "Come  here, 

Mr.  H rd,  and  help  your  room-mate  carry  his 

trunk  upstairs;  step  lively,  now."    With  that  in- 

trodux^tion  Mr.  H rd  and  I  took  hold  of  the 

trunk.  Just  then  the  tall  young  Tennessean,  whom 
I  knew  at  Ann  Arbor,  passed,  carrying  the  palms 
of  hands  to  the  front.  We  exchanged  knowing 
winks,  but  did  not  venture  to  speak.  "What's  the 
matter  with  you?    Don't  be  all  day  carrying  that 

trunk  upstairs."    H rd  and  I  tugged  away  and 

finally  got  the  trunk  upstairs  and  into  the  room 

designated.    Candidates  H rd  and  K p  had 

already  been  assigned  to  the  same  room.    "Stand 

attention,  Mr.  K p.    Don't  you  know  enough 

to  stand  attention  when  I  enter  the  room?    Palms 


THE   CANDIDATE.  45 

to  the  front.   Put  the  trunk  over  there.   Mr.  R d 


open  your  trunk  and  valise  and  take  out  every- 
thing and  make  a  list  of  all  you  have.  Stand  at- 
tention, Mr,  H rd.    Take  out  your  things  first 

and  make  a  list  afterward.  Put  the  small  articles 
on  this  part  of  the  clothes-press,  hang  your  clothes 
on  those  pegs  and  put  your  bedding  over  there. 
Study  the  regulations.  Fold  your  things  properly, 
put  them  in  their  places  and  the  next  time  I  come 
in  I  want  to  see  everything  in  place.  What  did 
you  bring  that  umbrella  for?    You  will  never  need 

it  here.    Mr.  R d,  post  your  name  over  there 

on  the  'alcove,'  put  it  on  the  'Orderly  Board'  under 

Mr.  K p's  name,    and    put    it   there    on    the 

clothes-press.  Whenever  you  hear  the  command, 
'Candidates,  turn  out,'  button  your  coats,  hasten 
downstairs  and  'fall  in'  in  the  Area."  Cadet 
H d  left  the  room  then,  and  we  sat  down,  pros- 
trated. Then  we  proceeded  to  get  acquainted  with 
one  another,  and  on  comparing  notes  we  found  that 
each  one  of  us  had  had  about  the  same  reception. 
As  H rd  and  K p  had  reported  the  day  be- 
fore, they  gave  me  many  pointers,  which  I  appre- 
ciated. 

The  room  was  good-sized,  with  two  alcoves  at 
the  end  opposite  the  window;  but,  oh!  how  unin- 
viting it  seemed.  No  bed,  no  carpet,  no  curtains, 
and  not  even  shades.  The  furniture  that  was  in 
the  room  consisted  of  a  clothes-press,  that  is,  shelv- 
ing arranged  for  two  cadets,  but  to  be  used  by 
three  or  four  candidates,  two  small  iron  tables,  a 


46  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

wash  stand,  an  iron  mantel  and  a  steam  coil  with 
a  marble  slab  on  it.  H rd  and  K p  had  al- 
ready carried  from  the  Commissary  certain  arti- 
cles for  use  by  all  occupants  of  the  room,  as  fol- 
lows: A  looking  glass,  a  wash  basin,  a  water 
bucket,  a  cocoanut  dipper,  a  slop  bucket  and  a 
broom.  They  had  also  obtained  such  other  articles 
as  were  required  for  their  personal  use,  such  as  a 
chair  and  a  pillow. 

The  following  extract  from  the  "Blue  Book" 
shows  the 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  ROOMS,  ETC. 

White  Helmet. — On  the  clothes-press. 

Dress  Hat. — On  gun-rack  shelf. 

Cartridge  Box  and  Bayonet  or  Sword. — On  pegs 
near  gun-rack. 

Caps  and  Sabres. — On  pegs  near  gun-rack. 

Rifle. — In  gun-rack. 

Spurs. — On  peg  with  sabre. 

Bedstead. — In  alcove  against  side  wall  of  room, 
head  against  rear  wall. 

Bedding. — Mattress,  folded  once;  blankets, 
comforter  and  sheets,  folded  separately,  so  that 
the  folds  shall  be  the  width  of  the  pillow,  and  all 
piled  against  the  head  of  the  bedstead,  thus: 
mattress,  sheets,  pillow,  blankets  and  comforter; 
the  end  of  the  pile  next  to  the  alcove  partition  to 
be  in  line  with  the  side  of  the  bedstead;  this  end 
and  the  front  of  the  pile  to  be  vertical. 

Clothes-Press. — Books  on  top  against  the  wall, 


THE   CANDIDATE.  47 

backs  to  the  front;  hair  and  clothes  brushes, 
combs,  shaving  materials,  such  small  boxes  as 
are  allowed,  vials  for  medicine,  etc.,  on  top  shelf; 
belts,  collars,  gloves,  handkerchiefs,  socks,  etc., 
on  second  shelf  from  the  top;  sheets,  pillow 
cases,  shirts,  drawers,  pants,  etc.,  on  the  other 
shelves. 

Text  Books. — Those  in  daily  use  may  be  upon 
the  tables,  except  during  Sunday  morning  inspec- 
tion. 

Arrangement. — Ail  articles  of  the  same  kind  to 
be  neatly  placed  in  one  pile,  folded  edges  to  the 
front  and  even  with  front  edge  of  the  shelves. 
Nothing  to  be  betw^een  these  piles  and  the  back 
of  the  press,  unless  want  of  room  renders  it  neces- 
sary. 

Soiled  Clothes. — In  clothes  bag. 

Shoes. — To  be  kept  clean,  dusted  and  arrange*! 
in  line  along  the  side  near  the  foot  of  the  bed.  Shoe 
brush  in  the  fireplace. 

Woolen  Clothing,  Dressing  Gown  and  Clothes 
Bag. — On  pegs  in  alcove,  arranged  as  follows: 
Overcoat,  dressing  gown,  uniform  coats,  jackets, 
gray  pants,  clothes  bag  and  night  clothes. 

Broom. — Behind  the  door. 

Candle  Box. — In  fireplace. 

Tables. — Against  the  wall  under  gas  jet  or  near 
the  window  when  the  room  is  dark. 

Chairs. — From  8  a.  m.  to  10  p.  m.  against  the 
tables  when  not  in  use. 

Mirror. — At  center  of  mantel. 


48  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Wash  Stand. — In  front  of  and  against  alcove 
partition. 

Wash  Basin. — Inverted  on  top  of  wash  stand. 

Water  Bucket. — Near  to  and  on  side  of  wash 
stand  opposite  the  door. 

Dipper. — In  water  bucket. 

Slop  Bucket. — Near  to  and  on  side  of  wash  stand 
nearest  the  door. 

Curtains. — Regulation  only  allowed. 

Calendar. — A  small,  plain  one  may  be  placed  on 
the  wall  over  the  gas  fixture. 

Clock. — A  small,  plain  one  may  be  kept  on  the 
mantel. 

Bath  Towel. — May  be  hung  in  the  alcove. 

Trunks,  Pictures,  Splashers,  Writing  Desks, 
Etc. — Prohibited.  There  is  a  storeroom  for 
trunks. 

Floor. — To  be  kept  clean  and  free  from  grease 
spots  or  stains. 

Heating  Apparatus. — To  be  kept  clean  and  free 
from  scratches. 

Windows. — Cadets  are  forbidden  to  sit  at  the 
windows  with  feet  on  the  woodwork,  or  to  appear 
before  windows  improperly  dressed,  or  to  com- 
municate through  windows,  or  to  raise  the  lower 
sash  more  than  four  inches  during  "call  to  quar- 
ters." 

Names. — Uniformly  printed  to  be  posted  over 
gun-rack  pegs,  alcove,  clothes-press  and  on  orderly 
board  over  wash  stand. 


I 


THE   CANDIDATE.  4d 

Hours  of  Recitation. — To  be  on  the  mantel  on 
either  side  of  the  mirror. 

Academic  Regulations,  Articles  of  War  and  the 
Blue  Book. — To  be  kept  on  the  mantel. 

Laundry. — All  clothes  sent  to  the  wash  to  be 
plainly  marked  with  owner's  name. 

Room  Orderly. — Is  responsible  for  the  cleanli- 
ness and  ventilation  of  the  room,  and  that  arti- 
cles for  joint  use  are  in  place. 

After  having  folded  and  arranged  my  posses- 
sions according  to  the  Blue  Book,  as  I  understood 
from  a  hasty  perusal  of  it,  I  looked  out  of  the  win- 
dow down  into  the  Area  of  Barracks,  where  I  saw 
old  cadets  passing  to  and  fro.  They  carried  them- 
selves so  very  erect  that  we  could  not  help  but  ad- 
mire them  and  wish  that  we  too  were  as  straight 
and  walked  as  well  as  they.  We  observed,  what 
small  waists  they  had,  and  we  wondered  if  they 
laced.  Another  thing  we  observed  was  that  the 
cadets  looked  so  much  alike.  I  had  unbuttoned 
my  coat  while  arranging  my  effects  and  forgot  to 
button  it  again,  when  I  heard  a  quick  walk  in  the 
hall  and  then  a  sharp,  firm,  single  rap  on  the  door. 
We  all  sprang  promptly  to  attention,  palms  to  the 

front.    Cadet  H d  entered  and  began:  "Button 

your  coat,  Mr.  R d."    He  moved  several  piles 

on  the  clothes-press  and  disarranged  my  bedding, 
too,  saying,  "Not  folded  properly.    Why  don't  you 

study  the  Blue  Book?    Mr.  H rd,  fill  your  water 

bucket  the  first  thing  every  morning.  Get  the  wa- 
ter from  one  of  the  hydrants  in  the  Area.     The 


50  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

floor  is  very  dirty,  sweep  it  properly,  invert  your 
wash  bowl,  and  don't  let  me  have  occasion  to  speak 
about  these  things  again." 

The  first  call  for  dinner  sounded  and  then  we 
heard,  "Candidates,  turn  out  promptly."  We  hast- 
ened downstairs.  The  old  cadets  were  gathering  in 
four  different  groups,  while  the  candidates  were 

being   put   into   another   one.      Cadets    H d, 

A n  and  M n  w  ere  on  the  w^atch  for  can- 
didates, and  they  began  thus: 

"Button  that  coat.  Get  down  here  lively.  'Fall 
in.'  Fall  in  in  the  rear;  don't  you  know  better 
than  to  get  in  front  of  anybody?  Palms  to  the 
front.  Fix  your  eyes  on  the  seam  of  the  coat  collar 
of  the  man  in  front  of  you,  and  at  the  second  call, 
face  to  the  left."  Some  of  the  candidates  faced 
one  way  and  some  another,  but  we  were  soon 
straightened  out,  and  then,  "Eyes  to  the  front! 
What  do  you  mean  gazing  about  in  ranks?  Each 
candidate,  as  his  name  is  called,  will  answer  'Here' 
in  a  clear  and  audible  tone  of  voice."  The  roll  of 
the  candidates  was  then  called.    "Why  don't  you 

answer,  Mr.  H ?  Well,  then,  speak  up  so  that 

you  can  be  heard.    Mr. ,  don't  shout,"  and  so 

on  till  the  last  name  was  called.  We  were  told  how 
to  "count  fours,"  and  after  the  command  came 
something  like  this:  "Stop  counting.    Try  it  over. 

Count  fours.    Steady,  Mr. ;  wait  till  the  man 

on  your  right  counts.     Eyes  to  the  front.     Why 

don't  you  count,  Mr. ?   Speak  out.    Eyes  to  the 

front,"  and  so  on.     We  were  now  told  how  to 


•=3 

O  >^ 

*     > 

73 


THE    CANDIDATE.  53 

"wheel  by  fours,"  and  at  the  command,  "March," 
to  step  off  with  the  left  foot  first.  There  was  a 
great  time  after  the  command  "Fours  right, 
march,"  was  given.  The  cadets  on  duty  over  us 
were  kept  busy  shouting  at  and  pulling  in  place, 
first  one  candidate  and  then  another,  but  after  a 
fashion  we  got  started  and  followed  the  cadets  to 
the  Mess  Hall,  and  those  on  duty  over  us  were  kept 
busy  all  the  way  correcting  mistakes  made  by  the 
candidates. 

While  en  route  to  dinner  we  were  directed  to 
remove  our  caps  just  before  entering  the  Mess 
Hall  and  to  put  them  on  again  just  after  leaving 
it.  Of  course  we  made  blunders,  and  were  gently 
(?)  corrected  for  them.  Upon  entering  the  hall  we 
were  directed  to  certain  tables,  but  told  not  to  sit 
down  until  the  command,  "Candidates,  take  seats," 
w^as  given.  When  each  one  found  a  place  behind  an 
iron  stool  (that  in  my  day  resembled  an  hour  glass 
in  shape),  the  command,  "A  Company,  take  seats," 
was  given,  and  then  the  members  of  A  Company  all 
sat  dowm  promptly;  then  came  "B  Company,  take 
seats,"  "C  Company,  take  seats,"  "D  Company,  take 
seats,"  and  then,  "Candidates,  take  seats."  Imme- 
diately after  the  last  command  something  like  this 
came:  "Sit  dowm  promptly.  Do  you  want  to  be 
all  day  about  it?  Eat  your  dinner,  and  don't  leave 
the  table  until  the  command,  'Candidates,  rise.' " 

Dinner  was  on  the  table,  and  there  were  a  good 
many  tables  in  the  big  hall.  Each  table  had  seats 
for  twenty-two  persons,  ten  on  a  side  and  one  at 


54  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

either  end.  There  were  tablecloths,  but  no  nap- 
kins, and  one  waiter  for  every  two  long  tables;  the 
waiters  did  not  pass  anything,  but  brought  water, 
bread,  etc.,  when  needed.  The  cadets  (and  candi- 
dates) at  the  ends  of  the  tables  did  the  carving, 
while  those  at  the  center  of  the  long  tables  poured 
the  water.  At  supper  and  breakfast  there  were  no 
tablecloths.  Tablecloths  and  napkins  are  now  fur- 
nished for  all  meals,  and  there  are  cane  seat  chairs 
instead  of  the  old  iron  stools.  The  tables  of  the 
cadets  were  divided  crosswise  in  the  center  by  an 
imaginary  line  into  two  parts,  and  each  part  was 
called  a  table.  The  cadets  had  seats  according  to 
rank,  and  they  always  sat  in  the  same  seats.  First 
classmen  sat  near  the  end  called  the  head  of  the 
table,  second  classmen  next,  third  classmen  (ex- 
cept the  corporals)  next,  and  then  fourth  classmen, 
the  latter  being  at  the  center  of  the  long  tables. 
The  corporals  were  the  carv^ers,  and  the  fourth 
classmen  poured  the  water. 

After  dinner  we  were  marched  back  to  barracks, 
and  before  being  .dismissed  the  candidates  were 
informed  that  they  could  do  as  they  pleased  until 
the  bugle  sounded  "Call  to  quarters"  at  2  o'clock, 
and  then  they  must  repair  promptly  to  quarters, 
that  is,  to  their  own  rooms  in  the  barracks.  All 
the  time  that  we  were  in  ranks  the  usual  volleys 
were  fired  at  us,  such  as:  "Eyes  to  the  front.  Head 
erect  and  chin  in."  After  we  were  dismissed  we 
were  constantly  reminded  to  "carry  palms  of  the 
hands  to  the  front,"  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 


THE   CANDIDATE.  55 

we  had  been  told  to  go  where  we  pleased  for  a 
whole  half  hour.  Some  of  the  candidates  went  to 
the  sink  (i.  e.,  water  closet),  and  some  of  the  old 
cadets  went  there,  too.  A  number  of  them  sur- 
rounded a  poor  candidate,  called  him  a  plebe  or  an 
animal,  and  fired  dozens  of  questions  at  him  at 
once.  The  madder  the  plebe  got  the  more  fun  it 
was  for  the  old  cadets.  As  the  candidates  were 
not  acquainted  with  one  another,  and  as  they 
dreaded  to  meet  the  old  cadets,  they  naturally 
drifted  to  their  own  quarters,  thinking  that  the 
safest  place  to  be,  but,  alas!  some  of  the  old  cadets 
called  upon  them  there.  While  they  did  not  men- 
tion their  names,  something  like  this  generally  oc- 
curred: "'Shun'  squad.  Come  to  attention,  plebes. 
Palms  to  the  front.  What's  your  namie?  Spell  it, 
spell  it  backwards.     What  state  are  you  from? 

Who's  your  predecessor?  Say:  "Mr. ."  Do  you 

think  you  can  pass  the  ^prelim'?  Where  is  New- 
burg?  Don't  know?  How  do  you  expect  to  get 
in  here  if  you  don't  know  where  Newburg  is? 
Climb  up  on  that  mantel  and  be  lively  about  it, 
too.  Now  move  your  arms  and  say,  'Caw,  Caw.' 
Stop  that  laughing.  Eyes  to  the  front."  And  so 
on,  till  the  old  cadets  would  slip  out  in  time  to  go 
to  their  rooms  for  "Call  to  quarters." 

At  two  o'clock  came  the  call,  "Candidates,  turn 
out  promptly,"  and  every  candidate  turned  out  and 
"fell  in."  A  number  were  sent  back  for  towels  and 
upon  returning  to  the  Area  were  sent  to  the  bath- 
rooms, then  in  the  basement  of  D  Company  quai*- 


56  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT' 

ters.  After  bathing  some  were  sent  to  the  Cadet 
Hospital  for  physical  examination,  and  were  there 
told  to  strip  to  the  skin,  then  called  one  at  a  time 
before  three  Army  Surgeons,  in  full  uniform,  who 
examined  the  lungs,  eyes,  ears,  teeth  and  feet,  made 
the  candidates  hop  first  on  one  foot  then  on  the 
other,  raise  their  hands  high  above  the  head, 
cough,  bend  over  forward,  etc.  When  my  turn 
came  I  did  not  mention  anjiihing  about  ever  hav- 
ing been  troubled  with  my  eyes. 

Upon  returning  to  the  barracks  we  were  sent 
to  the  Commissary,  where  each  candidate  was  giv- 
en the  articles  necessary  for  his  own  immediate 
use.  As  near  as  I  now  remember,  I  got  a  chair,  a 
pillow,  a  piece  of  soap,  an  arithmetic,  a  slate,  a 
copybook,  a  quire  of  "uniform"  paper,  a  history,  a 
grammar  and  a  geography.  Other  candidates  who, 
like  myself,  had  brought  the  articles  marked 
"Thus*"  received  the  same  as  I,  while  those  who 
had  not  brought  them  got  two  blankets  in  addi- 
tion to  what  the  rest  of  us  got.  The  books  men- 
tioned above  are  not  now  issued  to  candidates. 

Cadet  H d  saw  to  it  that  candidates  rooming 

together  were  provided  with  a  wash  bowl,  a  mir- 
ror, two  buckets,  etc.  When  all  were  fitted  out  we 
took  up  our  loads  and  returned  with  them  to  Bar- 
racks, carrying  them  in  our  hands  or  on  our  shoul- 
ders, as  was  most  convenient.  This  trip  from  the 
Commissary  store  to  Barracks  has  been  described 
thus; 


THE   CANDIDATE.  57 

"Examinations  being  completed. 
The  'found'  tiaving  fled  evermore. 

Then  with  fear  and  a  sigh 

And  blood  in  the  eye, 
Candidates  hasten  to  the  store. 

'Give  me  my  things,'  in  joy  a  plebe  exclaims, 
Then  the  storekeeper  puts  on  a  smile. 

But  dispels  the  illusion 

And  causes  confusion 
By  throwing  his  goods  in  a  pile." 

"Slowly  he  carries  them  across  the  plain. 
With  buckets  and  broom  in  the  rear; 

But  hard  is  the  task. 

He  has  reason  to  ask 
If  his  future  abode  is  quite  clear. 

"The  looking-glass  breaks,  the  pails  rattle  loud. 
And  the  sound  echoes  from  afar; 

Plebe  cries  in  disgust, 

'Let  me  get  up  and  dust, 
I  want  to  go  home  to  my  ma.' " 

Upon  returning  to  Barracks  we  were  ordered  to 
our  rooms,  and  then  to  the  shoeblacks,  at  that  time 
in  the  basement  of  B  Company  quarters,  to  have 
our  shoes  cleaned  and  polished,  and  told  to  go 
there,  at  certain  hours,  as  often  as  necessary  to 
keep  our  shoes  in  proper  order.    Candidates  w^hose 

hair  was  considered  too  long  by  Cadet  H d 

were  sent  to  the  barber's,  at  that  time  in  the  base- 
ment of  C  Company  quarters.  Candidates  who 
had  to  shave  w^ere  directed  to  shave  themselves, 
as  the  barber  was  not  permitted  to  do  anything 
but  cut  hair. 

At  4:15  p.  m.  we  were  turned  out  for  "Squad 


58  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Drill."  We  "fell  in"  promptly  and  were  corrected 
in  the  manner  indicated  when  we  fell  in  for  din- 
ner.    Even  now  I  seem  to  hear  Cadets  A n, 

H d  and  M n  shouting  themselves  hoarse 

at  us  poor,  stupid  candidates.    There  were  about 

twenty  "yearlings,"  classmates  of  Cadets  A n 

and  H d,  standing  aroulid  our  line,  waiting  to 

get  a  chance  at  the  candidates,  so  as  to  compete 
with  them  and  with  one  another  for  "Corporal's 
chevrons."  We  were  separated  into  squads  of  four 
or  five  to  the  squad,  and  a  cadet  instructor  as- 
signed to  drill  each  squad.    Cadet  H d  had  the 

squad  I  was  in.  After  all  details  were  adjusted, 
the  command,  "March  off  your  Squads"  was  given, 
and  then  Babylon  was  let  loose;  the  candidates 
could  hear  the  commands  of  all  of  the  instructors, 
and  they  did  not  know  the  voice  of  their  own, 
hence  there  was  much  confusion.  Some  of  the 
instructors  acted  as  if  they  wanted  to  terrorize 
the  candidates  in  their  squads,  and  shouted :  "Eyes 
to  the  front.  Pay  attention  to  me.  What  do  yoa 
mean  by  listening  to  others?  Palms  to  the  front," 
and  so  on,  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  we 
were  given  a  brief  "rest." 

Then  we  were  taught  how  to  march  and  the  in- 
structor began  thus:  "At  the  word  'forward'  throw 
the  weight  of  the  body  upon  the  right  leg,  the  left 
knee  straight.  At  the  word  'march'  move  the  left 
leg  smartly,  without  jerk,  carry  the  left  foot  for- 
ward thirty  inches  from  the  right,  the  sole  near 
the  ground,  the  toe  a  little  depressed,  knee  straight 


THE    CANDIDATE,  59 

and  slightly  turned  out.  At  the  same  time  throw 
the  weight  of  the  body  forward  (eyes  to  the  front), 
and  plant  the  foot  without  shock,  weight  of  the 
body  resting  upon  it;  next,  in  like  manner,  ad- 
vance the  right  foot  and  plant  it  as  above.  Con- 
tinue to  advance  without  crossing  the  legs  or  strik- 
ing one  against  the  other,  keeping  the  face  direct 
to  the  front.  Now,  'forward,  common  time,  march.' 
Depress  the  toe,  so  that  it  strikes  the  ground  at 
the  same  time  as  the  heel.  (Palms  of  the  hands 
squarely  to  the  front.  Head  up.)  When  I  count 
'one,'  plant  the  left  foot,  'two,'  plant  the  right, 
'three,'  plant  the  left  again,  'four,'  plant  the  right 
again,  and  so  on.  Now,  'One,'  'two,'  'three,'  'four,' " 
etc.  "Bring  your  feet  down  together.  Depress  your 
toes,"  and  so  on. 

We  were  taught  many  things,  such  as  the  fac- 
ings, the  exercises,  rests,  etc.  "In  place,  rest,"  was 
the  most  acceptable,  but  half  the  pleasure  of  that 
was  taken  away  from  the  candidates  by  being 
often  told  to  "keep  one  heel  in  place."  That  first 
hour  at  squad  drill  is  not  soon  forgotten.  My  every 
muscle  was  sore  and  I  ached  all  over.  Just  before 
we  were  dismissed  we  were  informed  that  we  could 
go  anywhere  we  pleased  on  Cadet  Limits,  so  long 
as  we  were  back  a  little  before  sunset,  in  time  for 
dress  parade.  This  seemed  a  great  privilege,  but 
wherever  candidates  went  some  old  cadets  were  al- 
ready there,  and  greeted  them  with  "Depress  your 
toes,  plebes.  Palms  to  the  front.  Are  you  going 
to  be  all  summer  learning  how  to  march?    Squad 


60  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

halt.  Right  hand  salute.  What's  your  name? 
Can  you  sing,  dance  or  play  on  the  piano?  Come 
here  *Dad,'  and  see  this  'animal.' "  And  a  thousand 
and  one  other  equally  pleasant  sayings. 

Dress  parade  came  and  went,  but  the  candi- 
dates did  not  participate  in  the  ceremony  out  on 
the  grassy  plain.  They  were  kept  in  the  Area,  and 
their  positions  alternated  between  "Attention"  and 
"Parade,  Rest."  When  the  "Retreat  Gun"  was  fired 
many  of  them  jumped  half  out  of  ranks,  and  then 
were  gently  (?)  informed  that  they  were  a  fine  lot 
of  soldiers.  "What  do  you  mean  by  leaving  ranks 
before  you  are  dismissed?'^  When  we  had  half  a 
chance  we  enjoyed  the  music  of  the  band,  but  it 
was  very  hard  to  hear  it  and  our  instructor's  com- 
mands at  the  same  time.  Soon  after  parade  we 
fell  in  again  and  marched  to  supper.  On  the  way 
to  and  from  the  Mess  Hall  we  were  constantly  en- 
tertained by  our  cadet  instructors  by  such  com- 
mands as,  "Eyes  to  the  front,"  "Depress  your  toes," 
and  "Palms  to  the  front."  Before  being  dismissed 
after  supper  we  were  informed  that  we  had  half 
an  hour  before  "Call  to  quarters,"  and  that  during 
that  half  hour  we  could  do  as  we  pleased.  But 
that  half  hour  passed  just  as  the  other  half  hours 
had  passed,  that  is,  by  the  candidates  furnishing 
amusement  for  the  old  cadets. 

Upon  going  to  our  rooms  at  the  signal  of  "Call 

to  quarters,"  Cadet  H d  called  to  say  that  if 

we  expected  to  pass  our  preliminary  examination 
we  had  better  "bone  up"  for  it;  he  also  informed 


I 


SETTING    UP    EXERCISES. 
61 


TitE    CANDIDATE.  63 

US  that  we  could  not  retire  until  after  "Tattoo."  A 
cadet's  bed  is  "made  down,"  when  it  is  ready  to 
get  into,  and  it  is  "made  up"  when  it  is  piled  ac- 
cording to  regulations  and  not  ready  for  use.  We 
were  too  tired  to  talk.  At  9 :30  we  were  turned  out 
to  Tattoo.  After  Tattoo  I  folded  each  blanket 
lengthwise  and  laid  it  on  the  floor,  then  spread  the 
sheets  and  comforter  on  the  blankets,  undressed 

and  got  in  bed,  leaving  H rd,  the  room  orderly, 

to  turn  out  the  gas.  Our  bones  did  not  fit  the  hard 
floor  very  well,  but  we  soon  fell  asleep.  "Taps" 
sounded  at  10  p.  m.,  and,  oh,  how  sweet  and  sooth- 
ing it  was.  In  a  few  moments  more  our  room  door 
was  opened  (for  they  are  never  locked),  a  dark  lan- 
tern flashed  in  our  faces  and  the  door  closed  again. 
The  same  thing  was  repeated  once  more  during 
the  night,  but  this  time  by  an  officer  of  the  army, 
called  by  the  cadets  a  "Tactical  Officer."  These  in- 
spections were  made  to  make  sure  that  our  lights 
were  out  and  that  we  were  in  bed.  We  slept  in 
the  alcoves,  heads  near  the  wall  farthest  from 

the  door.     H rd,  K p  and    I,    when    fast 

asleep,  were  suddenly  awakened.  We  had  been 
"yanked,"  that  is,  some  old  cadets  had  come  into 
our  room,  seized  our  blankets,  and  with  a  quick 
jerk  carried  us  some  distance  from  the  wall,  and 
then  ran  out  of  the  room.  We  fell  asleep 
once  more  and  slept  soundly  until  we  were  awak- 
ened by  the  "Reveille  Gun"  that  is  fired  at  sunrise 
and  followed  by  the  beating  off  of  "Reveille."  This 
music  was  very  pretty,  too,  but  we  could  not  half 


64  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

appreciate  it,  as  we  had  to  get  up  at  once,  fall  in 
and  begin  another  day.    After  reveille  we  made  up 

our  beds.     H rd   swept   out   and   brought  a 

bucket  of  fresh  water.    Cadet  H d  inspected 

our  quarters  twenty  minutes  after  reveille,  and 

said,  "Mr.  H rd,  your  wash  bowl  is  not  inverted, 

and  3'our  floor  not  half  swept.  Attend  to  them  at 
once." 

We  had  another  hour's  drill  before  breakfast 
(omitted  now),  which  made  us  very  hungry.  Sick 
call  sounded  soon  after  this  drill,  but  while  the 
candidates  were  all  half  sick,  it  was  not  medicine 
they  wanted,  so  none  of  them  went  to  the  hospital. 
Breakfast  was  at  seven  o'clock,  and  after  it  the 
candidates  furnished  the  cadets  with  the  custom- 
ary^ half-hour's  entertainment  before  call  to  quar- 
ters sounded.    Cadet  H d  again  cautioned  us 

to  "bone  up"  when  he  inspected  quarters  about 
nine  o'clock,  and  said:  "The  mantel  is  dusty,  and 
the  floor  very  dii-ty."  Captain  H 1,  a  Tacti- 
cal Oflicer  of  the  Army,  also  inspected  us  before 
noon,  but  he  did  not  say  anything.  While  I  had 
then  been  only  a  day  at  West  Point,  so  much  had 
happened  that  it  seemed  an  age. 

About  a  week  passed  with  much  the  same 
routine  as  for  the  first  day,  except  that  we 
had  Saturday  afternoon,  after  inspection,  to  our- 
selves, that  is,  such  part  of  it  as  we  were  not 
busy  entertaining  old  cadets,  and  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing we  had  inspection  of  quarters,  and  after  this 
inspection  we  were  all  marched  to  church.     On 


THE   CANDIDATE.  65 

Sunday  afternoon  we  were  permitted  to  make 
down  and  air,  or  use,  our  beds,  and  to  enjoy  lying 
on  the  soft  side  of  the  boards  again.  The  candi- 
dates were  all  marched  to  the  Episcopal  Church, 
"the"  church  there  at  that  day.  In  due  time  the 
Catholics  and  Methodists  attended  their  own 
churches,  but  all  cadets,  except  Jewish  ones,  had 
to  attend  some  church  once  a  week.  After  inspec- 
tion of  quarters  on  Sunday  morning,  K p  be- 
came room  orderly  for  the  next  week.  It  was  then 
his  duty  to  sweep  and  dust  the  room  and  to 

carry  the  water  needed  for  himself,  H rd  and 

me.  The  dirt  was  swept  into  the  hall  to  one  side 
of  the  door,  and  left  there.  A  policeman,  that  is, 
the  janitor,  swept  the  halls,  carried  out  the  waste 
water  and  scrubbed  room  and  hall  floors,  when 
necessary.  It  is  wonderful  how  soon  we  learned 
many  things,  such  as  to  button  our  coats  and 
spring  to  attention,  palms  to  the  front,  at  the 
sound  of  footsteps  in  our  hall.  At  first  we  made 
mistakes,  but  we  soon  learned  to  distinguish  the 
footsteps  of  our  instructors  from  those  of  our  fel- 
low-candidates. 

There  was  a  story  in  my  day  of  a  gentleman 
who  went  with  his  son  when  the  latter  reported  as 

a  candidate,  and  that  while  Cadets  H d  and 

A n  were  putting  the  son  through  his  first  les- 
son in  the  office,  the  father  turned  his  palms  to  the 
front,  put  his  heels  together,  and  otherwise  as- 
sumed the  position  of  the  soldier. 

At  the  first  opportunity  I  wrote  home,  but  I  was 


66  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

very  careful  not  to  mention  the  hardships  I  en- 
dured, for  the  reason  that  I  had  gone  to  West  Point 
contrary  to  my  parents'  wishes,  and  consequent- 
ly I  was  determined  to  get  through  if  I  could.  This 
reminds  me,  there  were  young  men  in  my  class 
whose  parents  had  sent  them  there  against  the 
wishes  of  the  candidates  themselves,  and  many  of 
these  young  men  did  not  want  to  stay.  Competi- 
tive examinations  required  by  some  Congressmen 
for  appointments  were  not  as  common  in  my  day 
as  they  are  now.  Some  of  my  classmates  purpose- 
ly failed  on  the  preliminary  examination  and 
West  Point  is  no  place  for  a  young  man  unless  the 
young  man  himself  wants  to  go  there. 

One  day  Mr.  B dy,  my  predecessor,  sent  for 

me  to  go  to  his  quarters.  I  did  not  know  what  new 
trials  were  in  store  for  me,  as  I  had  never  been  in 

any  old  cadet's  quarters.    Mr.  B dy  invited  me 

to  sit  down,  which  I  did  for  the  first  time  in  an  old 
cadet's  presence.  We  talked  for  a  few  moments 
about  people  we  both  knew  at  our  native  places. 
He  then  gave  me  his  "white  pants"  (about  twenty 
pairs),  and  said  he  hoped  I  would  pass  the  "pre- 
lim" so  as  to  be  able  to  wear  them,  and  that  I 
would  graduate  higher  than  he  would. 

The  "graduating  ball"  that  year  was  on  the 
night  of  June  14th,  but  as  candidates  were  not  ex- 
pected to  attend  it,  none  were  present.  The  next 
day  the  graduating  class  received  their  diplomas, 
discarded  cadet  gray,  put  on  "Cit"  clothes,  said 
good-byes  and  left  the  Point,  to  return  no  more  as 


THE   CANDIDATE.  67 

cadets.  We  did  not  know  much  of  the  graduating 
class,  but  I  now  remember  the  names  of  more  men 
in  that  class  than  in  any  other  at  the  Academy,  ex- 
cepting my  own.  This  I  account  for  from  the  fact 
that  I  was  then  so  much  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  a  graduate  of  West  Point.  In  my  eyes 
he  seemed  to  be  a  greater  man  than  the  Superin- 
tendent, in  fact  there  was  no  comparison. 

There  was  a  change  made  on  graduating  day 
among  the  cadet  officers.    At  the  next  drill  Cadet 

H d  appeared  with  pretty  gold  lace  chevrons 

on  his  coat.  He  wore  them  on  the  sleeves  of  his 
dress  coat,  below  the  elbow,  and  he  was  proud  to 
have  everybody  know  that  he  was  a  "Corporal" 
now.    I  promptly  congratulated  him,  and  he  said, 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  R d,"  instead  of  reprimanding 

me  for  speaking  without  having  been  first  spoken 
to.  In  a  few  days  more  the  new  second  class  men 
put  on  "Cit"  clothes,  and  left  on  furlough.  It 
seemed  strange  to  me  that  these  cadets  seemed 
just  as  anxious  to  take  off  the  cadet  gray  as  the 
candidates  were  to  put  it  on. 

Before  the  departure  of  the  graduates  and  fur- 
loughmen  the  candidates  learned  that  there  were 
four  trunk  rooms  in  the  angle  of  Barracks,  one 
for  the  cadets  of  each  company.  They  learned  this 
by  carrying  trunks  from  there  to  the  rooms  of  the 
graduates  and  furloughmen.  I  soon  learned  that 
I  got  along  the  easiest  by  saying  as  little  as  possi- 
ble and  doing  about  as  I  was  told.  The  candidates 
who  talked  much  or  who  bragged  on  what  they 


68  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT 

knew,  especially  about  military  matters,  Ixad  the 
hardest  time.  These  poor  fellows  were  called  "too 
fresh,"  or  "rapid,"  and,  as  the  cadets  expressed  it, 
they  had  to  be  "taken  down." 

It  was  a  common  thing  for  old  cadets  to  enjoy 
a  call  upon  candidates  after  supper  and  on  Satur- 
day afternoons.  And  it  was  dififlcult  at  first  for 
candidates  to  become  acquainted  with  one  an- 
other, as  so  much  of  their  leisure  (?)  time  was  taken 
up  answering  questions,  standing  on  chairs,  tables 
and  mantels,  reading  press  notices  about  them- 
selves, singing,  and  in  fact  doing  almost  every- 
thing old  cadets  told  them  to  do.  I  have  heard 
many  cadets  when  they  were  "plebes"  or  "ani- 
mals," declare  that  they  would  not  do  so  and  so, 
but  they  alwaj^s  did  as  they  were  told,  and  they 
were  quick  about  it,  too.  It  is  strange  what  con- 
trol old  cadets  have  over  "plebes."  They  never  laid 
hands  on  candidates  except  when  they  yanked 
them. 

We  soon  discovered  that  the  cadets  who  found 
especial  delight  in  being  in  the  society  of  plebes 
were  generally  "yearlings,"  that  is,  those  who  had 
themselves  been  plebes  only  the  year  before.  But 
"yearling"  instructors  seldom  deviled  plebes  in 
their  own  squads. 

Mail  arrived  every  day,  and  was  sorted  over, 
that  for  the  cadets  and  plebes  in  each  division  was 
dropped  on  the  floor  in  the  halls  near  the  entrances 
and  the  word  mail  called  out  in  a  loud  tone  of 
voice.    Every  one  expecting  mail  buttoned  up  his 


THE    CANDIDATE.  6» 

coat  and  hastened  to  get  such  as  might  be  for  him. 
Now  the  policemen  deliver  mail  to  the  cadets  in 
their  rooms. 

In  a  few  days  more  the  candidates  were  sent  in 
sections  of  about  a  dozen  to  the  section  for  their 
preliminary  or  entrance  examination.  The  section 
I  was  in  was  sent  to  a  room  having  tables,  chairs 
and  writing  materials,  and  we  were  here  exam- 
ined in  writing  and  spelling.  There  was  but  one 
officer  present,  and  after  a  certain  time  we  put  our 
names  on  and  handed  our  papers  to  him  whether 
we  had  finished  them  or  not.  We  were  next  sent 
to  another  room,  where  there  were  about  a  half  a 
dozen  members  of  the  Academic  Board,  and  as 
many  other  army  officers.  Each  candidate,  as  his 
name  was  called,  was  assigned  a  subject  and  then 
sent  to  a  blackboard.  The  first  one  called  was 
numbered  one,  the  second  numbered  two,  and  so 
on,  until  five  or  six  candidates  were  sent  to  differ- 
ent blackboards.  Each  was  directed  to  write  his 
name  and  number  at  the  upper  right  hand  corner 
of  the  board,  to  put  such  data  or  work  on  the  board 
as  he  wished,  and  when  ready  to  recite  to  pick  up  a 
pointer  in  his  right  hand  and  face  about.  While 
those  sent  to  the  blackboard  were  getting  ready 
to  recite,  another  candidate  was  sent  to  the  center 
of  the  room,  facing  the  examiners,  and  then  ques- 
tioned by  one  of  them.  After  finishing  with  the 
candidate  on  questions.  No.  1  was  called  upon  to 
recite,  and  after  he  was  through,  another  candi- 
date was  assigned  a  subject  and  sent  to  the  board, 


70  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

and  so  on.  Some  of  the  candidates  were  self-pos- 
sessed, and  made  good  recitations  and  ready  an- 
swers to  questions,  while  others  trembled  all  over 
and  lost  control  over  themselves,  their  hearts  got 
up  into  their  throats  or  went  down  into  their  boots. 
The  examination  here  was  in  grammar,  history, 
and  geography.  We  were  then  sent  to  another 
room  before  as  many  other  Professors  and  Army 
Officers  for  examination  in  arithmetic  and  reading. 
I  was  satisfied  with  my  examination  up  to  this 
time.  After  the  assignments  to  the  blackboards 
I  was  called  upon  to  read.  I  began  to  tremble, 
and  had  much  difficulty  in  turning  to  the  page 
designated.  I  read  very  poorly,  because  I  could 
not  hold  the  book  steady,  and  the  words  on  the 
page  danced  so  that  it  was  hard  for  me  to  catch 
them.    I  was  then  told  to  put  down  the  book  and 

was  questioned  in  arithmetic.     Professor  C h 

asked  me  a  number  of  questions,  the  answers  to 
which  I  knew  perfectly  well,  yet  all  the  answer  I 
could  make  was  "I  don't  know,  sir."  Professor 
C h  then  talked  kindly  and  said  how  import- 
ant it  was  to  me,  that  I  answer  the  questions,  be- 
cause if  I  did  not  answer  properly  that  I  would  be 
found  deficient  and  sent  home.  I  then  said  that 
the  old  cadets  had  told  me  he  would  "find"  me, 
and  I  believed  he  would.  After  having  said  this 
I  got  courage  to  ask  to  be  sent  to  the  blackboard. 
My  request  was  granted,  and  I  had  no  trouble  in 
writing  answers  to  every  question,  or  to  solve  any 
problem  given  me,  but  for  th^  Jif^  of  me  I  could 


THE    CANDIDATE.  73 

not  turn  my  back  to  the  board  and  tell  what  I  had 
put  on  it;  but  fortunately  I  could  point  to  any- 
thing called  for.  The  preliminary  examinations 
the  next  year  were  written,  and  they  have  been 
written  ever  since,  which  is  decidedly  the  best,  as 
some  of  my  class  were  so  badly  frightened  that 
they  did  not  know  what  they  said,  and  some  who 
failed  were  graduates  of  good  schools,  or  had 
passed  splendid  competitive  examinations  for 
their  appointments.  In  a  few  days  the  result  of 
the  examination  was  announced,  and  I  was  happy 
to  write  home  that  I  was  one  of  the  lucky  ones  to 
enter  West  Point,  and  be  a  "new  Cadet"  instead  of 
a  "Candidate."  Those  of  us  who  were  fortunate 
enough  to  pass  w^ere  sent  to  the  Commissary  for 
"plebe-skins,"  that  is,  rubber  overcoats,  caps  and 
white  gloves,  and  we  were  measured  for  uniform, 
clothes  and  shoes,  and  for  fear  perhaps  that  we 
might  get  lazy  another  hour's  drill,  from  11  a.  m.  to 
12  m.,  was  given  us.  From  now  on  we  w^ore  caps 
and  white  gloves  at  all  infantry  drills. 

The  new  cadet  whose  name  comes  first  in  alpha- 
betical order  is  the  "class-marcher"  w^henever  the 
class  is  called  out  by  itself,  and  it  is  his  duty  to 
call  the  roll  of  the  class  and  to  report  absentees. 
After  our  preliminary  examination  B y  be- 
came the  class-marcher,  and  he  marched  us  over 
to  the  Library,  where  we  took  the  oath  of  allegi- 
ance.*   We  were  now  assigned  to  Companies,  the 


♦See  Appendix,  page  ii. 


74  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

tallest  were  put  in  A  and  D  and  the  rest  in 
B  and  C  Companies,  but  the  new  cadets  were 
still  drilled  by  themselves  in  small  squads,  then  in 
larger  ones,  and  later  on  all  in  one  squad  as  a 
company. 

W r  of  my  class  wore  a  plug  hat  when  he  re- 
ported, and  he  was  sorry  for  it  many  times.     He 

was  the  left  file  of  Mr.  H d's  squad.     One  day 

we  were  drilling  on  the  Cavalry  plain,  and  there 
were  many  ladies  and  gentlemen  watching  the 
drill.    We  were  marching  in  line  at  double  time, 

and  Mr.  H d  gave  the  command,  "By  the  right 

flank,  march."    Three  of  us  marched  to  the  right, 

but  Mr.  W r  went  off  to  the  left  all  by  himself. 

Everybody  near  laughed,  even  Mr.  H d  sup- 
pressed a  grin,  and  then  scolded  the  new  cadets 
for  laughing  in  ranks.  Mr.  W r  chewed  to- 
bacco, and  this,  too,  caused  him  many  unhappy 
moments,  but  after  having  been  repeatedly  repri- 
manded for  chewing  tobacco  and  told  to  spit  it  out 
he  quit  the  practice  in  ranks. 

There  was  a  young  man  who  could  not  keep  step, 
yet  he  tried  hard  to  do  so.  When  in  front  he  threw 
everybody  behind  him  out  of  step  and  at  other 
times  he  would  walk  all  over  the  heels  of  the  man 
in  front  of  him.  I  do  not  remember  whether  he 
was  found  deficient  physically  or  mentally,  but  he 
was  not  there  long.  This  reminds  me  of  the 
"Awkward  Squad."  It  was  composed  of  those 
who  were  particularly  slow  in  doing  what  they 
were  told  to  do.    Tired  and  sore  as  they  were  from 


THE   CANDIDATE.  75 

the  frequent  drills,  I  have  seen  members  of  the 
AwkAvard  Squad  practice  alone,  determined  to  get 
out  of  it,  which,  of  course,  they  eventually  did. 

We  studied  the  Blue  Book,  but  the  most  of  the 
regulations  were  learned  by  having  them  beaten 
into  our  heads  by  the  old  cadets.  We  did  not 
then  have  a  copy  of  the  Drill  Regulations  to  study, 
but  we  learned  them  in  the  same  way  that  we 
learned  most  of  the  Regulations  in  the  Blue  Book. 

We  were  now  instructed  in  many  things  besides 
Squad  Drill.  For  instance,  we  were  informed  that 
we  would  be. reported  for  all  delinquencies,  that 
is,  for  all  offenses  committed  against  the  Regula- 
tions, that  the  reports  would  be  read  out  daily 
after  parade,  and  be  posted  the  next  day  in  a  cer- 
tain place;  that  we  must  go  there  every  day  to  see 
the  list;  that  when  there  were  reports  against  us 
we  must  copy  the  exact  wording  of  each  report 
and  then  write  an  explanation  for  it ;  that  we  must 
^T*ite  as  many  explanations  as  there  were  reports 
against  us,  and  further,  that  for  all  official  com- 
munications we  must  use  "Uniform  Paper"  (i.  e., 
paper  of  a  certain  size)  and  no  other. 

New  cadets  are  taught  to  use  as  few  words  as 
possible  in  their  explanations.  One  evening  at 
Dress  Parade,  a  plebe  raised  his  hand  and  of  course 
he  was  reported  for  it,  and  the  reason  he  gave  in 
his  explanation  for  raising  his  hand  in  ranks  was, 
"Bug  in  ear." 

The  following  illustrates  the  character  of  the 
reports  posted  against  cadets,  to- wit; 


76  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


REPORTS. 

Floor  not  properly  swept  at  A.  M.  inspection. 

Bedding  not  properly  folded  at  police  inspec- 
tion. 

Late  at  dinner  formation. 

Calling  for  articles  of  food  in  an  unncessarily 
loud  tone  of  voice  at  supper. 

Gloves  in  clothes-press  not  neatly  arranged  at 
morning  inspection. 

Appearing  in  Mathematical  Section  Room  with 
shoes  not  properly  polished. 

Inattention  in  Mathematical  Section  Room. 

Shoulder  belt  too  short  at  inspection. 

Dust  in  chamber  of  rifle  at  inspection. 

In  dressing  gown  at  A.  M.  inspection. 

Shoes  at  side  of  bed  not  dusted  at  A.  M.  inspec- 
tion. 

Hair  too  long  at  weekly  inspection. 

Absent  from  formation  for  gymnasium  at  12  M. 

Orderly  light  in  quarters  after  taps. 

Late  at  reveille. 

Absent  from  quarters  9  A.  M. 


THE  CANDIDATE  77 

Wheeling  improperly  by  fours  at  drill. 

Not  seeing  to  it  that  a  cadet  who  was  late  at 
breakfast  was  reported. 

Coat  not  buttoned  throughout  at  reveille. 
Cap  visor  dusty  at  guard-mounting. 

The  discipline  is  very  strict,  more  so  by  far  than 
in  the  Army,  but  the  enforcement  of  penalties  for 
reports  is  inflexible  rather  than  severe.  The  re- 
ports are  made  by  Army  Officers,  and  by  certain 
cadets  themselves,  such  as  file-closers  and  section- 
marchers,  and  the  cadets  make  by  far  the  greatest 
number  of  reports  against  one  another,  but  no 
cadet  ever  reports  another  except  when  it  is  his 
duty  to  do  so.  If  he  fails  to  report  a  breach  of  dis- 
cipline he  himself  is  reported  for  the  neglect.  Ca- 
dets may  write  explanations  for  all  reports  against 
them,  but  they  must  write  an  explanation  for  ab- 
sence from  any  duty  or  from  quarters;  for  com- 
municating at  blackboard  in  section  room;  for 
neglect  of  study  or  duty;  for  disobedience  of  or- 
ders ;  for  failure  to  register  for  a  bath,  and  for  fail- 
ure to  report  departure  or  return  on  permit  where 
such  report  is  required. 

When  the  Commandant  accepts  an  explanation 
as  satisfactory  he  crosses  off  the  report,  and  four 
days  after  the  date  of  reports,  for  which  either  no 
explanations  or  unsatisfactory  ones  have  been  re- 
ceived, he  forwards  them  to  the  Superintendent, 


78  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

and  he  causes  a  certain  number  of  demerits  to  be 
entered  against  a  cadet  for  each  report  in  a  book 
kept  for  that  purpose,  and  which  the  cadets  may 
see  once  a  week.  Any  cadet  receiving  more  than 
one  hundred  demerits  in  six  months  is  dismissed 
from  the  Academy  for  deficiency  in  discipline.  The 
result  is  that  cadets  invariably  write  explanations, 
and  the  form  now  used  is  as  follows: 


WEST  POINT,  N.  Y., ,  18—. 

Report — Bedding  not  properly  folded  at  police 
inspection. 

Explanation — Some  one  disarranged  my  bed- 
ding after  I  had  piled  it.  I  was  at  the  sink  at  the 
time  of  the  inspection,  and  I  readjusted  the  bed- 
ding upon  my  return. 

Respectfully  submitted. 


Cadet  — ,  Co.  — ,  —  Class. 
To  the  Commandant  of  Cadets. 


For  the  first  few  weeks  demerits  are  not  counted 
against  new  cadets,  but  to  teach  them  how  to 
write  them,  explanations  must  be  submitted  for 
all  reports.  Whenever  a  cadet  is  reported  absent, 
and  he  is  on  Cadet  IJmits,  he  is  sure  to  write  an 


THE  CANDIDATE.  79 

explanation  stating  this  fact  and  anything  more 
he  may  have  to  say,  because  if  he  fails  to  do  so  he 
is  tried  by  Court-Martial. 

A  "permit"  is  a  document  that  grants  certain 
privileges  to  the  cadet  named  in  it.  A  map  of 
"Cadet  Limits"  is  posted  where  all  may  see  it,  and 
when  a  cadet  desires  to  visit  friends  at  the  hotel 
or  at  an  Officer's  quarters,  or  go  to  the  Dutch 
Woman's,  i.  e.,  the  confectioner's,  or  to  the  den- 
tist's, he  must  write  an  official  letter  to  the  Com- 
mandant of  Cadets  (or  to  the  Adjutant  of  the  Mili- 
tary Academy,  as  the  case  may  be),  setting  forth 
what  duty,  if  any,  he  wishes  to  be  excused  from, 
and  the  exact  time  he  wishes.  This  letter  will  be 
returned  with  an  endorsement  granting  all,  a  part 
or  none  of  his  request,  and  the  cadet  must  govern 
himself  accordingly. 

From  now  on  we  had  to  make  out  a  list  of  such 
articles  as  we  wanted  or  were  instructed  to  get 
from  the  Commissary.  An  account  is  kept  by  the 
Treasurer  with  each  cadet,  who  is  credited  with 
his  deposit,  and  also  with  his  pay  (see  appendix, 
page  xi),  and  he  is  charged  for  everything  fur- 
nished him,  such  as  board,  washing,  wearing  ap- 
parel, bedding,  books,  gas,  policing  barracks,  pol- 
ishing shoes,  etc.  At  his  option  a  cadet  is  also 
charged  for  boats,  hops,  etc.,  and  when  out  of  debt 
with  such  luxuries  as  new  clothes,  hop  gloves,  hop 
shoes,  or  |2,00  per  month  for  confectioneries  at  the 
"Dutch  Woman's." 


80 


CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POlNTf*. 


As  time  wore  away  we  felt  less  fatigue  from 
drill,  and  found  more  pleasure  in  life,  and  letters 
home  were  quite  cheerful. 


THE    PLEBE    IN    CAMP.  81 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    PLEBE    IN    CAMP. 

ABOUT  two  weeks  after  I  reported  we  were  di- 
rected to  prepare  to  go  to  Camp  McPherson, 
a  half  mile  or  so  from  Barracks,  out  beyond 
the  Cavalry  plain,  near  old  Fort  Clinton.  We 
were  told  just  what  articles  to  take  for  use 
in  camp,  and  that  we  must  put  the  balance 
of  our  effects  in  our  trunks  and  carry  them 
to  the  trunk  rooms  in  the  angle.  We  sort- 
ed out  our  camp  articles,  and  each  cadet 
made  a  bundle  of  his  small  things,  and  used  a  com- 
forter or  a  blanket  to  hold  them.    D n,  M s, 

and  I,  having  arranged  to  tent  together,  we  helped 
one  another  store  away  our  trunks.  When  the 
call  sounded  to  "fall  in"  we  fell  in  with  our  bun- 
dles, brooms  and  buckets,  and  marched  over  to 
the  camp.  There  were  trees  all  around  the  camp 
site,  with  quite  a  grove  at  the  guard  tents.  The 
tents  were  all  pitched  and  they  looked  very  pretty 
through  the  trees,  with  the  trees  and  green  para- 
pet of  Fort  Clinton  as  a  background,  which  could 
be  seen  over  the  tops  of  the  white  tents  as  we  ap- 
proached the  camp.  The  tent  cords  were  not  fas- 
tened to  pegs  in  the  ground,  but  to  pegs  in  cross- 
pieces  supported    upon    posts    about    four    feet 


82  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

high,  which  brought  the  Company  tents  only 
four  or  five  feet  apart.  All  of  the  tents 
for  cadets  were  wall  tents,  and  each  had 
a  "fly"  on  it.  There  was  a  wooden  floor, 
a  gun  rack,  and  a  keyless  locker  (that  is,  a 
four-compartment  long  box),  and  a  swinging  pole 
hung  about  eighteen  inches  below  the  ridge  pole  of 
the  tent,  and  nothing  else  in  it  After  the  assign- 
ment, which,  of  course,  was  made  according  to 
rank,  we  proceeded  to  our  respective  tents,  that 
were  to  be  our  homes  till  the  29th  of  August,  the 
day  to  return  to  Barracks. 

The  "Yearlings"  and  first  classmen,  too,  began 
to  take  a  greater  interest  in  the  plebes  than  ever. 
They  were  anxious  to  teach  them  how  to  fix  up 
their  tents,  and  this  is  the  way  they  did:  "Come 
here,  Plebe,  and  I'll  show  you  how  to  fix  up  your 
tent.  Untie  those  bundles,  fold  the  blankets  once 
one  way  then  once  the  other  way;  that's  it.  Now 
I)ile  them  in  the  rear  corner  over  there,  farthest 
from  the  locker;  put  the  folded  edges  to  the  front 
and  inside;  that's  not  right,  turn  them  the  other 
way;  now  that's  right  Lay  the  pillows  on  the 
blankets,  closed  ends  toward  the  locker;  that's  it; 
now  fold  the  comforters  just  like  you  folded  the 
blankets,  and  pile  them  the  same  way  on  top  of  the 
pillows;  that's  it  Why,  you're  an  old  soldier, 
ain't  you?  Straighten  the  pile  a  little,  so  that  the 
edges  are  vertical;  that's  it.  Now  hang  the  mir- 
ror up  there  on  the  front  pole;  that's  it.  Put  the 
washbowl  out  there  against  the  platform,  bottom 


•  THE   PLEBE   IN  CAMP.  85 

outward;  that's  it.  Put  the  candle-box  behind  the 
rear  tent  pole.  Put  the  white  pants,  underclothes, 
etc.,  in  the  locker.  Throw  the  overcoats,  gray 
pants,  etc.,  on  the  pole.  There,  that'll  do.  Say, 
wait  a  minute.  When  you  go  after  water,  why  I 
want  some;  just  set  the  bucket  down  there  by  the 
washbowl  when  you  come  back."  After  having 
been  given  several  lessons  the  plebes  were  per- 
mitted to  fix  up  their  own  tents,  and  in  a  very- 
short  time  every  tent  was  ship-shape.  The  year- 
lings kindly  showed  the  plebes  how  to  clean  rifles, 
too,  and  this  is  the  way  they  did  it :  "Come  here, 
Plebe,  you'll  soon  be  getting  your  guns,  so  Pll 
teach  you  how  to  clean  yours;  just  get  that  gun 
over  there  in  my  rack;  that's  the  one;  get  the 
cleaning  materials  in  the  candle-box,  take  out  a 
rag,  put  oil  on  it;  that's  it.  Lay  the  gun  in  your 
lap,  muzzle  to  the  left,  half-cock  the  piece,  open 
the  chamber.  Why,  you're  doing  well.  See  the 
rust  in  the  breech  block?  Well,  get  a  small  stick 
out  of  the  candle-box,  put  a  bit  of  the  rag  over  it, 
pour  a  little  oil  on  the  rag,  now  be  quick,  rub  it  on 
the  rusty  place,  rub  hard,  elbow  grease  is  what 
counts  most,  so  don't  be  afraid  to  use  plenty  of  it," 
and  so  on,  till  the  yearling's  gun  showed  an  im- 
provement. "I'll  call  you  again  soon  to  give  you 
another  lesson ;  that'll  do  now."  Strange  as  it  may 
appear,  even  the  first  classmen  condescended  to 
teach  us  some  things,  and  even  the  cadet  officers 
showed  us  how  to  clean  their  breast  plates.  The 
old  cadets  never  told  us,  in  so  many  words,  to  do 


86  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

anything  of  a  menial  character,  but  their  broad 
hints  and  insinuating  ways  were  very  persuasive. 
Every  day  the  plebes  were  called  to  the  tents  of  the 
Army  Officers  in  charge  of  cadet  companies,  and 
asked  if  they  had  any  complaints  to  make  against 
upper  classmen,  and  the  plebes  invariably  an- 
swered "No,  sir." 

We  continued  to  take  our  meals  in  the  Mess 
Hall,  and  we  marched  to  and  fro  as  usual,  but  as 
the  distance  was  a  half  mile  or  more  we  were  now 
cheered  en  route  (notwithstanding  the  plebes  still 
carried  palms  to  the  front)  by  the  inspiring  music 
of  fifes  and  drums;  and  we  now  sat  at  tables  with 
the  old  cadets,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  pouring 
water  for  them  before  helping  ourselves,  no  matter 
how  thirsty  we  might  be,  but  such  is  the  life  of  a 
plebe,  and  it  is  a  necessary  part  of  his  training. 

The  first  day  in  camp  w^e  were  initiated  in  police 
duty;  the  other  classmen  turned  out  with  us,  and, 
as  usual,  they  did  the  talking  and  we  did  the  work. 
The  detail  from  each  company  had  a  wheelbar- 
row, a  shovel,  and  a  broom.  The  grounds,  to  us 
plebes,  seemed  clean  when  we  began,  but  we  got 
half  a  wheelbarrow  load  of  dirt  all  the  same,  which 
we  dum]>ed  into  "police  hollow,"  near  camp  and 
just  west  of  Fort  Clinton.  We  gathered  up  burnt 
matches^  cigar  stumps,  tobacco  quids,  bits  of 
paper,  etc.  Whenever  there  was  a  sign  of  rain  we 
turned  out  and  loosened  tent  cords,  and  after  a 
rain  we  turned  out  and  tightened  them — always 
by  command,  of  course.     We  dreaded  the  nights 


THE  PLEBE   IN   CAMP.  87 

in  camp,  but  we  were  not  yanked  often,  unless  we 
got  too  fresh  or  rapid,  and  then,  of  course,  we  had 
to  be  taken  down. 

The  parade  ground  was  changed  during  camp 
from  the  grassy  plain  in  front  of  Professor's  Row 
to  the  space  between  the  guard  tents  and  the  west 
line  of  company  tents.  In  fair  weather  the  bat- 
talion stacked  arms  on  the  camp  parade  ground, 
and  the  colors  were  furled  and  laid  on  the  center 
stack.  The  arms  and  colors,  that  is,  the  United 
States  flag,  were  left  there  from  after  guard  mount 
till  4  p.  m.,  and  a  sentinel  posted  to  require  every- 
body crossing  his  post,  which  is  known  as  the 
"Color  Line,"  to  salute  the  colors  by  lifting  the  cap. 

We  plebes  were  very  anxious  to  get  guns,  but 
after  we  did  get  them  w^e  wished  we  dia  not  have 
them,  for  we  were  again  put  into  small  squads  and 
drilled  three  times  a  day,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  our  right  arms  were  very  sore,  and  each  rifle 
seemed  to  weigh  a  ton,  and,  again,  we  had  to  spend 
several  hours  a  day,  for  weeks,  cleaning  the  guns 
before  they  would  pass  inspection.  Each  cadet 
knows  his  own  gun  by  the  number  on  it.  The 
upper  classmen  had  already  taught  us  how  to 
clean  their  guns,  so  we  knew  something  about 
cleaning  our  own,  and  they  now  were  considerate 
enough  to  allow  us  more  time  to  ourselves,  and 
some  of  the  plebes  finished  cleaning  their  guns  in 
less  than  an  hour's  time.  But,  alas!  at  the  first 
drill  with  arms  the  cadet  instructors  told  them 
that  their  guns,  cartridge  boxes,  and  waist  plates 


88  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

were  very  dirty.  After  drill  we  set  to  work  on 
them  again,  but  still  they  were  said  to  be  dirty. 
In  the  course  of  time  we  were  told  that  our  guns 
were  passable,  and  later  on  that  they  were  in  fair 
condition.  We  soon  learned  to  attend  to  them 
immediately  after  a  rain,  as  it  was  easier  to  clean 
them  then  than  after  they  had  stood  awhile. 

We  were  kept  busy  at  first  complying  with  re- 
quests (?)  of  upper  classmen,  but  they  were  very 
considerate  and  dispensed  with  our  services  long 
enough  to  let  us  attend  drills  three  times  a  day, 
police  service  twice  a  day,  and  to  other  military 
duties.  We  were  still  required,  both  in  and  out  of 
ranks,  to  carry  palms  of  the  hands  to  the  front,  but 
Dothing  more  was  said  about  depressing  the  toes. 

Cadets  are  encouraged  to  be  patriotic,  and  they 
always  celebrate  Fourth  of  July.  This  year,  as 
the  Fourth  fell  on  Sunday,  the  exercises  were  held 
on  the  next  day. 


UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  ACADEMY. 

July  5th.  18— 
President, 

Cadet  E.  E.  Wood Pennsylvania 

Marshal  of  the  Day, 
Cadet  J,  Rockwell New  York 

PROGRAMME. 

Overture. 

Prayer. 

Music. 

Reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 

Cadet  E.  M.  Cobb California 

Music. 
Oration, 

Cadet  E.  S.  Chapin Iowa 

Music. 

Benediction. 

Music. 


89 


THE   PLEBB   IN   CAMP.  91 

Plebe  life  was  very  trying,  especially  on  H e 

of  my  class,  and  he,  being  something  of  a  po€t,  re- 
duced his  thoughts  to  writing,  which  he  showed 
to  his  classmates.  They  said  that  he  had  ex- 
pressed the  situation  very  well,  indeed.     Some  of 

the  yearlings  heard  of  H e's  poetry,  so  he  was 

persuaded  (?)  to  read  it  to  them,  and  then  to  sing 
it.  His  poetry  was  so  well  received  by  the  yearl- 
ings that  the  first  classmen  wanted  to  hear  it,  too, 

so  at  their  invitation  (?)  H e  both  read  and 

sang  it  for  them.  And,  at  the  request  of  a  num- 
ber of  upper  classmen,  he  made  copies  of  his  songs 
for  them.  Other  plebes  were  requested  (?)  to  make 
copies  of  the  copies,  and  the  following  are  copies 

of  H e's  copies  that  were  made  for  me  by  a 

plebe  in  my  yearling  camp,  viz. : 

THE  BIG  MENAGERIE. 

Attention,  all  ye  forlorn  Plebes, 

While  the  story  I  relate. 
Of  how  I  came  to  fall  into 

My  present  lost  estate. 
A  moment  only  dry  your  tears 

And  listen  unto  me. 
And  I'll  describe  my  experience 

In  this  big  menagerie. 

The  first  day  that  I  reported 

My  heart  was  full  of  joy. 
And  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 

I  was  a  bully  boy. 
A  stunner  in  my  native  town, 

I  thought  I'd  easily 
Upon  my  muscle  go  right  through 

This  big  menagerie. 


92  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

But,  ah!   full  soon  that  fatal  day 

My  crest  began  to  fall, 
And  my  spirits  came  down  mighty  fast 

When  I  got  to  the  Mess  Hall. 
My  folly  and  my  sauciness, 

They  soon  took  out  of  me, 
And  made  me  sing  a  different  tune. 

In  this  big  menagerie. 
They  put  me  up  in  the  window. 

Attention  made  me  stand. 
And  I  had  to  dance  and  sing  and  speak 

At  everyone's  commE^nd. 
I  tried  to  run,  but  soon  found  out 

That  my  rapidity 
Was  not  the  kind  of  game  to  play. 

In  this  big  menagerie. 
The  first  time  that  I  went  on  guard. 

The  night  wa^  dark  as  pitch. 
They  took  my  gun  and  then  yanked  me 

Right  in  Fort  Clinton's  ditch. 
The  Corporal  I  called  aloud, 

But  not  a  step  came  he. 
And  then  I  learned  another  lodge 

In  this  big  menagerie. 
But  after  all  I'd  been  through. 

They  said  I  was  not  tame, 
And  that  they  would  complete  the  cure, 

By  giving  me  another  name. 
They  called  me  for  some  gay  old  cuss. 

Who'd  been  dead  a  century. 
And  now  I'm  known  as  De  la  Rive, 

In  this  big  menagerie. 
All  day  I  police,  scrub  and  drill. 

Till  my  troubles  make  me  weep. 
And  when  the  day  is  over, 

I'm  denied  the  boon  of  sleep. 
But  all  the  night  lie  trembling. 

From  Taps  to  Reveille, 
For  fear  I  really  will  be  yanked 

In  this  big  menagerie. 


THE   PLEBE    IN    CAMP.  93 

My  frolics,  joys  and  amusements, 

Are  all  knocked  into  smash. 
And  pleasures  all  concentrated  are 

In  eating  Mess  Hall  hash. 
And  should  I  meet  a  lady  fair, 

I  dare  not  speak  to  she, 
That  would  be  too  fast  for  a  Plebe, 

In  this  big  menagerie. 

They  call  me  beast  and  vile  reptile. 

And  goodness  only  knows, 
I'd  rather  be  a  kangaroo. 

In  one  of  those  circus  shows, 
For  all  the  real  animals 

Are  happier  f3,r  than  we. 
For  they  don't  have  any  squad  drill 

In  their  menagerie. 

The  lions,  tigers,  bears  and  wolves 

Can  never  feel  our  woes. 
For  whoever  heard  of  an  elephant 

Depressing  his  great  toes. 
And  even  the  little  monkeys 

Are  happy,  gay  and  free. 
And  carry  their  hands  just  as  they  please 

In  their  menagerie. 

But  soon  this  camp  will  end,  and  then 

My  troubles  will  be  o'er, 
I'll  drop  the  beast  from  off  my  name. 

And  sing  this  song  no  more. 
But  where'er  I  roam  in  years  to  come, 

On  land  or  on  the  sea, 
I'll  ne'er  forget  my  sufferings 

In  this  big  menagerie. 

A  PLEBE'S  LAMENTATION. 

Oh,  Lord,  will  I  never  get  done 
A  rubbing  on  this  rusty  gun. 
Chorus — 

I  wish  I  was  at  home, 
I  wish  I  was  there,  too. 


94  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

It  makes  me  sigh,  it  makes  me  fret, 
To  clean  this  rusty  bayonet. 

Chorus — 

And  all  day  long,  in  rain  or  shine, 
We've  got  these  darned  old  tents  to  line. 

Chorus — 

There  were  a  good  many  more  verses  to  this 
song,  and  songs  written  by  others  of  my  class,  but 
I  have  forgotten  them. 

Uniforms  were  issued  to  the  plebes  as  fast  as 
they  were  made,  and  in  a  few  weelvs  all  were  uni- 
formed. The  only  pocket  in  the  whole  suit  was  a 
watch  pocket  in  the  pants.  We  were  permitted  to 
carry  a  watch,  but  not  a  chain.  Our  handker- 
chiefs were  tucked  in  the  breasts  of  our  coats. 
After  getting  uniforms  we  were  sent  to  the  trunk 
rooms  to  put  away  our  cit  clothes,  as  we  were 
not  allowed  to  keep  them  in  either  our  tent  or  bar- 
rack room.  In  a  few  weeks  the  plebes  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  battalion,  at  first  to  march  to  and 
from  meals,  and  then  for  parades,  but  they  still 
had  to  carry  disengaged  hands,  palms  to  the  front. 

After  supper  we  were  permitted  to  bathe  in  the 
Hudson  at  Gee's  Point,  and  many  of  us  availed 
ourselves  of  the  privilege.  As  I  have  said,  soon 
after  reporting,  I  wondered  if  the  old  cadets  laced. 
Well,  now,  when  bathing,  I  discovered  they  did 
not  lace.  Still,  I  wondered  why  old  cadets'  waists 
were  so  much  smaller  than  plebes'  waists. 

Every  day,  especially  during  guard-mount,  pa- 


I 


gLEJV^URE  n[  g0Ur 

JuringtliiJ  mfm^mm\<Sk^<s>o 

jYC;)iNXG£RS 

FOR    THE    FIRST    CL.ASS 

P    S     90MUS      W   S    CDCCRLY      8    WARREhT    rOUNTAIN 
r    V    OREENE       OTTO    L    HEIN      DEXTER    W    PARKER 
CLARENCE    A     POSTLEY      W    R.qUINAN    EOWC    STCVCNfr 

FOR   THE     THIRD    CLiASS 
JAMES    ALLEN      W   H.CARTER.    O.r. ELLIOTT. 
HARRY    A.UANOOM.     J.A.RUCKCR      W.F.ZCILIN 

West    Point 
N.y.SthJuly  18-'. 


96 


THE   PLEBE    IN    CAMP.  97 

rades,  and  band  practice,  there  used  to  be  many 
ladies  and  other  visitors  under  the  trees  near  the 
guard  tents.  The  upper  classmen  seemed  to  en- 
joy being  with  them,  but  the  plebes  were  seldom 
wanted  there.  The  plebes  used  to  hear  that  there 
were  hops  three  times  a  week  during  camp,  but 
that  is  about  all  they  knew  of  hops.  However, 
they  went  to  the  old  fencing  room  in  the  Academic 
Building  and  took  dancing  lessons,  and  as  no 
ladies  were  admitted  they  danced  with  one  an- 
other. 

At  last  the  time  arrived  for  us  to  go  on  guard, 
for  there  was  a  chain  of  cadet  sentinels  all  around 
the  camp.  We  dreaded  our  first  night  on  post, 
but  each  plebe  had  to  experience  it.  Our  guns 
were  not  loaded,  and  we  had  no  cartridges;  the 
rifle  with  the  bayonet  on  is  all  we  had  to  protect 
ourselves  with.  It  was  amusing  afterwards  to 
compare  notes  of  our  experiences.  Some  who  had 
boasted  most  fared  the  worst.  Some  had  had 
their  rifles  taken  away,  some  had  been  tied  to  a 
tree,  some  rolled  down  into  Fort  Clinton  ditch 
alongside  of  Posts  No.  2  and  No.  3.  Others  had 
been  frightened  by  ghosts,  or  confused  by  numer- 
ous parties  approaching  at  the  same  time  from 
different  directions.  Some  replies  to  the  chal- 
lenge being  a  band  of  Indians,  a  body  of  armed 
troops,  and  the  Prince  of  Wales.  Of  course,  the 
plebe  would  call  for  the  corporal  of  the  guard,  but 
this  oflficial  never  got  around  in  time  to  see  anyone, 
except  the  sentinel.  The  poor  plebe  was  then  taken 


98  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

to  task  for  allowing  himself  to  be  disarmed,  or  for 
uot  detaining  parties  till  the  corporal  arrived. 
When  questioned  as  to  who  the  parties  were  the 
answer  invaiiably  was  "I  could  not  recognize  any 
of  them."  When  the  old  guard  marched  off  the 
next  morning  each  member  fired  three  shots  at  a 

target     When  it  came  M s^  time  to  fire  he  was 

badly  frightened  because  he  had  never  fired  a  gun. 
And  when  asked  why  he  did  not  close  his  left  eye 
when  aiming  he  said  that  no  one  had  told  him  to 
close  it 

On  the  12th  of  August  we  again  visited  the 
trunk  rooms,  and  this  time  to  put  away  our 
dress  coats,  white  pants,  dress  hats,  etc.,  as  we 
were  to  go  on  a  campaign.  A  knapsack  and  a  half 
of  a  shelter  tent  were  issued  to  each  cadet.  After 
packing  our  knapsacks  and  getting  everything,  ex- 
cept our  wall  tents,  in  readiness,  we  fell  in  at  the 
sound  of  the  drum.  Our  wall  tents  were  left 
standing  with  the  walls  fastened  down  and  the 
flaps  tied  in  front.  To  the  time  of  "The  Girl  I  Left 
Behind  Me"  we  marched  in  a  drenching  rain  about 
a  dozen  miles  westward  up  into  the  mountains; 
halted,  stacked  arms,  unslung  knapsacks,  and  un- 
loaded the  big  six-mule  wagons  that  had  followed 
us.  We  then  pitched  the  "A"  tents  that  were  prc»- 
vided  for  our  use  now;  we  then  dug  a  trench 
around  each  tent,  and  so  as  not  to  lie  in  the  mud 
we  cut  boughs  to  sleep  on.  We  then  got  our  rifles 
and  knapsacks,  and  were  soon  at  home  again,  but 
this  time  in  more  contracted  quarters.    We  were 


TfiE    PLEBE    IN    CAMP.  9& 

now  taught  to  live  at  Camp  Lookout  in  regular 
army  style,  and  as  there  is  no  delinquency  book  in 
the  army  we  had  none  in  this  camp.  We  ate  army 
rations  and  slept  on  the  ground.  We  built  camp 
fires,  sang  songs,  and  otherwise  enjoyed  our  free- 
dom, for  no  one  said  anything  about  palms  to  the 
front  out  there  in  the  mountains.  The  camp  was 
in  the  woods,  between  Long  Pond  and  Round 
Pond.  We  obtained  drinking  water  from  one,  and 
utilized  the  other  to  wash  and  to  bathe  in.  We 
remained  out  there  about  ten  days,  and  each  cadet 
learned  to  do  guard  duty  in  the  woods.  Members 
of  the  guard  had  to  cut  poles  for  their  shelter  tents, 
and  button  two  or  more  pieces  together  for  use  at 
night,  and  they  were  needed,  too,  as  it  rained  more 
than  half  the  time  we  were  in  the  mountains.  Be- 
tween rains,  when  not  on  duty,  we  roamed  through 
the  woods  and  over  the  hills.  There  were  many 
laurel  bushes  all  about  us,  and  one  day  a  first 
classman  said  that  he  wanted  a  nice  root  to  make 
a  pipe,  and  that  I  could  get  it  with  a  hatchet  and 
spade.  I  took  the  hint  and  dug  about  half  a  dozen 
good  roots.  I  put  the  two  best  ones  in  the  breast 
of  my  gray  jacket  and  gave  the  others  to  the  first 
classmen.  I  afterwards  made  myself  two  fine  pipes, 
and  I  have  one  of  them  now.  Years  afterwards 
that  first  classman  and  I  met,  and  the  first  thing 
I  did  was  to  show  him  my  pet  pipe  and  thank  him 
for  it.  He  admired  the  pipe  and  my  cheek,  too, 
for  having  kept  the  best  root. 


100  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

As  soon  as  we  returned  to  Camp  McPherson 
palms  of  the  hands  were  turned  to  the  front  again 
and  the  usual  routine  there  resumed. 

Some  of  the  yearlings  said  that  certain  of  the 
plebes  had  become  "too  fresh"  out  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  as  the  ordinary  methods  would  not  tame 
them  down  a  few  fights  in  Fort  Clinton  were 
necessary.  Seconds  w^ere  chosen,  and  soon  nearly 
every  cadet  in  camp  knew  that  there  would  be  a 
fight  in  Fort  Clinton  on  a  certain  day  during  the 
supper  hour.  Fort  Clinton  is  just  across  Posts 
Nos.  2  and  3.  Those  who  desired  to  witness  a 
fight  assembled  at  the  ice  water  tank,  near  which 
the  Posts  of  Nos.  2  and  3  meet.  Then  when  the 
two  sentinels  on  these  posts  were  far  apart  and 
their  backs  toward  one  another  (which  is  against 
the  rule)  across  the  posts  would  dash  the  Fort 
Clinton  party,  and  strange  to  say  neither  sentinel 
would  see  any  unauthorized  person  or  persons 
cross  his  post.  When  the  referee  calls  time  the 
principals  and  seconds  are  in  place  and  the  fight 
begins.  Fists  only  are  used  in  these  fights,  and  as 
soon  as  either  side  calls  enough,  or  either  principal 
fails  to  come  to  time,  the  fight  is  over.  All  return  to 
camp,  the  bruises  are  bathed,  and  if  necessary  one 
or  both  principals  go  to  the  hospital,  and  the  sick 
report  the  next  morning  shows  one  or  two  names 
with  "contusions"  as  the  cause  of  the  disability. 
Unless  the  army  officers  on  duty  at  the  Point  have 
"official  knowledge"  of  a  cadet  fight  no  notice  is 
taken  of  it     When  a  dispute  arises  that  only  a 


I.  O.  C.  B. 

The  pleasure  of  your  company  is  respectfully  solicited  at 
a  Hop  Extraordinary,  to  be  given  on  the  evening  of  July  29th, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  "Confirmed  Bachelors"  of  the  Class 
of  18—  F.  G.  SCHWATKA, 

JAS.  E.  SHORTELLE, 
U.  G.  WHITE, 

Managers, 
West  Point,  July  28, 18—. 


101 


THE   PLEBE  IN  CAMP.  .      103 

fight  will  settle  and  the  parties  to  the  dispute  are 
unevenly  matched  the  result  may  be  one  or  two 
fights.  The  offending  cadet  must  fight,  and  a 
classmate  of  the  other  cadet  about  his  size  and 
strength  is  selected  to  do  battle  with  him.  Some- 
times the  offended  cadet  must  fight  a  man  of  his 
size,  and  then  there  are  two  fights. 

We  plebes  were  sent  to  the  river  a  number  of 
times  to  assist  the  first  classmen  to  build  pontoon 
bridges,  and  we  rendered  very  valuable  assistance, 
too,  by  carrying  all  heavy  timbers  used  and  help- 
ing to  get  the  boats  in  place  for  the  timbers  to  be 
laid  upon  them. 

RETURN  OF  THE  FURLOUGH  CLASS. 

There's  a  stir  in  Camp,  as  all  observers  may  see, 
'Tis  a  moment  of  interest,  a  moment  of  glee. 

The  "Furloughs"  are  coming,  and  now  must  be  near; 
There  is  dust,  there  is  shouting,  the  "Furloughs"  are  here. 

We  welcome  you  back  to  the  Camp  and  the  plain. 
There  your  favorite  "Tac"  will  drill  you  again. 

The  28th  of  August  is  a  day  every  graduate  re- 
members, for  it  is  then  the  furloughmen  return. 
I  can  see  them  now  rushing  into  camp.  That 
evening  there  was  a  great  time  out  on  the  color 
line;  we  plebes  were  turned  out  for  the  last  time 

to  amuse  upper  classmen.     H e  and  others 

sang  their  songs.  Some  of  them  had  been  sung  so 
often  that  everybody  knew  them  and  joined  in. 
The  evening  was  a  perfect  one,  and  there  were 


104      .  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

many  ladies  under  the  trees  near  the  guard  tehts, 
who  heaved  a  sigh  to  think  that  all  gayeties  were 
over  at  West  Point  until  the  next  June.  The  fol- 
lowing are  some  of  the  songs  that  were  sa  often 
sung  during  my  cadet  days,  to-wit: 

Old  Black  Joe,  My  Country, 

Dixie,  Annie  Laurie, 

Marching  Through  Georgia,  Red,  White  and  Blue, 

Tramp,  Tramp,  Tramp,  Home,  Sweet  Home, 

Hail  Columbia,  Suanee  River, 

Star  Spangled  Banner,  Auld  Lang  Syne. 

ARMY  BLUE. 

We've  not  much  longer  here  to  stay, 

For  in  a  year  or  two 
We'll  bid  farewell  to  "Cadet  Gray," 

And  don  the  "Army  Blue." 

Chorus — 

Army  Blue,  Army  Blue, 

We'll  don  the  Army  Blue, 
We'll  bid  farewell  to  Cadet  Gray, 
And  don  the  Army  Blue. 

To  the  ladies  who  come  up  in  June, 

We'll  bid  a  fond  adieu, 
And  hoping  they'll  be  married  soon. 

We'll  don  the  Army  Blue, 

Chorus- 
Now  here's  to  the  man  who  wins  "the  cup," 

May  he  be  kind  and  true. 
And  may  be  bring  "our  godson"  up 
To  don  the  Army  Blue. 

Chorus — 


i 


THE    PLEBE   IN   CAMP.  105 


BENNY  HAVENS,  OH! 

Come,  fill  your  glasses,  fellows,  and  stand  up  in  a  row, 
To  singing  sentimentally,  we're  going  for  to  go; 

In  the  Army  there's  sobriety,  promotion's  very  slow, 
So  we'll  sing  our  reminiscences  of  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Oh!  Benny  Havens,  Oh!  Oh!  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 
So  we'll  sing  our  reminiscences  of  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Let  us  remember,  comrades,  when  to  our  posts  we  go, 
The  ties  that  must  be  cut  in  twain,  as  o'er  life's  sea  we  row, 

Hearts  that  now  throb  in  unison  must  moulder  down  below. 
So  let  us  take  a  parting  cup  at  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Oh!  Benny  Havens,  Oh!  etc. 

To  our  kind  old  Alma  Mater,  our  rock-bound  Highland  home. 
We'll  cast  back  many  a  fond  regret,  as  o'er  life's  sea  we 
roam. 

Until  our  last  battle-field  the  lights  of  heaven  shall  glow, 
We'll  never  fail  to  drink  to  her  and  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Oh!  Benny  Havens,  Oh!  etc. 

May  the  army  be  augmented,  promotion  be  less  slow, 
May  our  Country,  in  her  hour  of  need,  be  ready  for  the  foe. 

May  we  find  a  soldier's  resting-place  beneath  a  soldier's  blow, 
With  space  enough  beside  our  graves  for  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Oh!   Benny  Havens,  Oh!  etc. 

Come,  fill  up  to  our  Generals,  God  bless  the  brave  heroes. 
They're  an  honor  to  their  country,  and  a  terror  to  her  foes; 

May  they  long  rest  on  their  laurels  and  trouble  never  know, 
But  live  to  see  a  thousand  years,  at  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Oh!  Benny  Havens,  Oh!  etc. 


106 


CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT 


When  you  and  I  and  Benny,  and  all  the  others,  too. 
Are  called  before  the  final  board  our  course  of  life  to  view. 

May  we  never  "fess"  on  any  point,  but  coldly  "max"  it  through. 
And  join  the  Army  of  the  blest,  at  Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

Oh!   Benny  Havens,  Oh!  etc. 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  109 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   PLEBE   IN   BARRACKS. 

THE  next  morning  we  took  our  bundles,  buck- 
ets, and  brooms  to  barracks,  and  upon  re- 
turning to  camp  we  unfastened  the  tent 
cords  and  held  up  the  canvas  by  the  poles,  and,  at 
the  tap  of  the  drum  at  12  o'clock,  every  tent  was 
lowered  to  the  ground,  and  "Camp  McPherson" 
was  no  more.  We  then  "fell  in,"  and  to  the  tune 
of  "The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me"  marched  to  bar- 
racks, leaving  the  summer  visitors  standing  under 
the  trees  near  where  the  guard  tents  had  been. 

There  were  rooms  enough  so  that  every  two 
cadets  could  have  one  together.  Roommates  hav- 
ing been  chosen  and  rooms  selected  (according  to 
rank,  of  course,)  each  cadet  went  to  his  own  room, 
and  there  he  found  two  single  iron  bedsteads  and 
a  double  clothes-press.  The  old  cadets  got  the 
balance  of  their  effects  (such  as  cadets  are  per- 
mitted to  have  in  their  rooms)  from  the  trunk 
rooms,  while  the  plebes  got  the  articles  they  had 
there,  and  the  balance,  such  as  mattresses  and 
tables,  they  went  to  the  Commissary  for,  and  car- 
ried them  across  the  plain.  Every  one  obtained 
at  the  Commissary  the  text-books  he  needed  be- 
fore Christmas,  and  by  night  all  rooms  were  in  or- 


110  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

der.  The  return  to  barracks  is  a  great  day  for 
plebes,  for  then  they  quit  carrying  palms  to  the 
front. 

The  "Seps"  arrived  about  this  time,  and  those 
who  were  admitted  were  assigned  to  rooms,  and 
they  at  once  became  a  part  of  the  fourth  class. 
"Seps"  are  candidates,  who,  for  some  good  reason, 
did  not  report  in  June.  (See  appendix.)  They 
began  recitations  with  the  rest  of  the  plebes,  but 
for  weeks  they  attended  drill  in  squads  by  them- 
selves. Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Seps  escape 
the  many  trials  and  tribulations  of  plebe  camp,  in 
escaping  it,  they  miss  one  of  the  most  valuable 
parts  of  cadet  life,  as  it  is  an  experience  which 
most  old  graduates  look  back  upon  with  pleasure. 
After  having  been  through  the  course  of  deviling, 
or  hazing,  as  practiced  in  my  day,  I  am  a  believer 
in  the  system,  because  I  believe  it  makes  young 
men  manly  and  self-reliant.  I  never  saw  bodily 
injury  inflicted  upon  a  plebe,  but  I  do  not  call 
bodily  injury  deviling.  I  call  that  cruelty,  and 
cruelty  should  be  severely  punished.  But  times 
have  changed  at  the  Academy  since  I  left  it.  Now 
after  candidates  have  reported  at  the  Adjutant's 
office  they  are  sent  to  the  Army  Officer  in  charge 
of  new  cadets.  And  it  is  his  duty  to  personally 
instruct  them  respecting  their  rights  and  duties 
in  their  relations  to  old  cadets  and  to  the  cadets 
on  duty  over  them.  He  causes  to  be  read  to  them 
the  present  regulations  pertaining  to  new  cadets 
and  explains  to  them  what  is  meant  by  "Cadet 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  Ill 

Limits."  Candidates  are  also  informed  that  they 
must  not  submit  to  hazing,  and  that  they  must 
promptly  report  to  the  Commandant  or  to  the 
Army  Officer  over  them  any  attempt  at  hazing  on 
the  part  of  old  cadets.  But  they  must  be  respect- 
ful to  all  and  perfectly  subordinate  and  obedient 
to  the  cadets  on  duty  over  them. 

No  more  shall  Plebes  be  deviled, 

And  yearlings  can't  be  seen. 
For  there's  now  a  law  against 

Hazing  the  Plebes  so  green. 

The  penalties  for  hazing  are  very  severe,  and 
several  cadets  have  been  dismissed  from  the  Acad- 
emy for  engaging  in  it.  A  recent  act  of  Congress 
says:  "Any  cadet  dismissed  for  hazing  shall  not 
be  eligible  to  reappointment." 

White  pants  were  very  pretty  for  camp,  but  now 
that  the  hops  were  over  and  the  visitors  gone  the 
cadets  had  to  work,  so  on  the  first  of  September 
they  appeared  in  their  gray  working  clothes. 

The  daily  routine  from  September  1st  to  about 
June  20th  is  as  follows:  Reveille  at  5:45  A.  M. 
(on  Sunday  at  6:30);  roll  call;  police  call  five  min- 
utes after  reveille;  sick  call  fifteen  minutes  after 
reveille;  then  clean  arms  or  study  or  take  physi- 
cal exercise;  breakfast  at  6:15;  recreation  except 
for  the  guard,  which  is  mounted,  at  7:15;  then 
study  and  recitations  from  8:00  A.  M.  to  1:00  P.  M. ; 
dinner  at  1:00;  recreation;  then  study  and  recita- 
tions from  2:00  to  4:00;  then  generally  military 
exercises  for  about  an  hour;  then  about  half  hour 


112  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

recreation,  followed  by  retreat  parade  at  about 
G:00;  supper;  recreation;  then  study  from  about 
7:30  to  9:30;  taps  at  10:00;  then  lights  out  till 
reveille  the  next  morning.  Rooms  are  inspected  at 
police  call;  between  8  and  11  a.  m.;  11  a,  m.  and 
1  p.  m.;  2  and  4;  four  times  between  7:30  and 
9:30;  again  at  taps,  and  once  more  between  taps 
and  reveille.  In  September  and  May  there  are 
Infantry  drills;  in  October  and  April  there  are 
Artillery  drills;  in  every  month  from  September 
first  to  June  first  there  are  Cavalry  drills;  from 
December  first  to  April  first  there  is  exercise  in 
the  gymnasium  or  in  dancing.  Saturday  afternoon 
is  for  recreation  except  between  2  and  2 :30  during 
the  weekly  inspection  of  the  battalion.  On 
Wednesday  after  4  p.  m.  there  are  no  drills,  the 
time  being  given  for  recreation.  On  Sundays  there 
are  no  recitations  and  no  military  duties,  except 
guard  and  inspection  of  quarters  at  9:45  a.  m., 
and  the  time  for  recreation  is  a  little  longer  than 
usual;  the  cadets  march  to  and  from  church;  all 
wear  white  gloves,  white  belts  and  those  entitled 
to  do  so  swords,  which  (swords  excepted)  are  not 
removed  during  service,  some  of  the  cadets  are 
members  of  the  choir.  Visiting  between  cadets 
is  allowed  only  during  recreation  hours. 

The  gymnasium  is  open  to  cadets  daily,  except 
Sundays,  from  1:30  to  2  p.  m.;  4:00  to  supper  mess 
parade,  and  on  Saturdays  afternoons  and  evenings 
until  tattoo. 

We  were  arranged  into  sections  of  from  eight 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  U3 

to  ten  cadets  to  the  section,  the  arrangement  of 
upper  classmen  being  made  according  to  class 
standing,*  as  determined  at  the  last  examination, 
while  the  arrangement  of  the  plebes  was  alpha- 
betical. The  first  cadet  in  each  section  was  the 
section-marcher,  that  is,  he  marched  the  section  to 
and  from  the  section  room.  The  section-marchei*s 
were  notified  what  the  first  lessons  would  be,  and 
the  hours  for  recitations,  and  they  then  notified 
the  members  of  their  sections.  The  studies**  for 
the  fourth  class  were  Mathematics  and  French,  and 
in  addition  to  these  we  had  instruction  in  Fencing, 
and  for  this  the  sections  were  larger  than  as  stated 
above.  One  half  the  class  attended  recitations  or 
fencing  at  a  time,  and  the  other  half  had  to  be  in 
their  rooms  during  Call  to  Quarters.  To  let  the 
Inspectors  know  when  cadets  are  at  recitations 
the  following  form  is  used: 

HOURS    OF  RECITATION. 

Cadet 4th  Class. 

Mathematics    From    8  A.  M.  to  9:30  A.  M. 

Use  of  the  sword,  etc..  .From  12       M.  to  1        P.  M. 
Modern  Languages From    3  P.  M.  to  4        P.  M. 

Each  cadet  obtained  a  blank  form  (and  there  is 
a  special  form  for  each  class),  put  his  name  on  it  in 
block  letters,  filled  in  his  hours  of  recitation  and  put 
it  on  the  mantel,  and  he  also  put  his  name  in  block 
letters  over  his  alcove,  on  the  orderly  board,  on 

♦See  Appendix 

♦*See  Appendix  page  xvii. 


114  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

his  clothes-press,  and  on  his  gun-rack.  Every 
cadet  not  in  his  room  at  inspection,  and  not  at 
recitation  at  the  time,  was  reported  absent,  unless 
his  room-mate  was  in  and  could  properly  account 
for  the  absence.  We  at  first  thought  that  our 
studies,  being  so  few,  would  be  easy,  but  when  we 
saw  the  great  long  lessons  and  had  experienced 
the  thoroughness  required  at  recitations,  we 
changed  our  opinions,  and  decided  that  much  hard 
study  was  necessary. 

Promptly  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
September  first,  the  bugle  was  sounded  for  sec- 
tions to  form.  One  half  of  each  class  "fell  in."  The 
Cadet  Officer  of  the  Day  commanded — "Front,  Call 
your  rolls."  Line  was  formed  in  the  area  of  bar- 
racks, first  classmen  were  nearest  the  Academic 
Building,  next  to  them  were  sections  of  the  sec- 
ond class,  next  third  classmen  and  then  the  plebes. 
Each  section-marcher  facing  his  section,  called  his 
roll  and  faced  to  the  front,  then  beginning  with 
the  ranking  section  of  tlie  first  class,  the  sec- 
tion-marchers reported.  The  Officer  of  the  Day 
then  commanded  "March,  off  your  sections."  If 
there  were  any  absentees  not  excused,  he  hunted 
them  up  and  sent  them  to  their  section  rooms.  The 
sections  marched  to  the  Academic  Building,  and 
each  went  to  the  room  previously  assigned,  the 
members  of  each,  section  hung  their  caps  in  the 
hall  on  hooks  near  the  door  and  then  filed  into  the 
room.  The  section-marcher  took  post  near  the 
center  of  the  room,  facing  the  instructor,  who 


The    tLEBE    IN    iBAREACKg,  US 

was  seated  on  ^  he  platform  opposite  to  the  door. 
The  membei's  of  the  section  went  one  half  to  the 
right,  and  the  other  half  to  the  left,  in  front  of 
two  benches.  The  section-marcher  saluted  and  re- 
ported, "All  are  present.  Sir,"  or,  "Mr.  is 

absent,  sir,"  the  instructor  returned  the  salute  and 
then  the  cadets  sat  down,  the  section-marcher 
taking  seat  on  the  right  of  the  first  half  of  his 
section.  On  a  blackboard  behind  the  instructor, 
was  written  the  lesson  for  the  next  day,  and  each 
cadet  noted  it.     The  instructor  then  called  Mr. 

,  who  took  post  in  the  center  of  the  room 

facing  the  instructor.  The  instructor  assigned  to 
him  a  topic  in  the  lesson,  care  being  required  on 
the  part  of  the  cadet  to  understand  the  topic  which 
is  called  his  "enunciation."  When  he  understood 
it,  he  went  to  a  certain  blackboard,  and  in  the 
upper  right  hand  corner  wrote  his  name  and  num- 
ber thus — Brown  1.  The  instructor  called  up  an- 
other cadet  who,  after  understanding  his  enuncia- 
tion, went  to  the  next  board,  and  wrote  his  name 
and  number,  thus — Smith  2,  and  so  on.  Topics 
in  the  lesson  of  the  day  were  assigned  to  the  first 
four,  and  topics  in  the  lesson  of  the  day  before  were 
assigned  to  three  or  four  others.  Then  one  was 
called  w^ho  took  post  in  the  center  of  the  room, 
and  the  instructor  questioned  him  for  ten  minutes 
or  more  upon  such  parts  of  either  lesson  that  he 
elected,  and  when  through  said  "That'll  do,"  when 
this  cadet  returned  to  his  seat  The  cadets  at  the 
boards  wrote  on  them  such  work  as  they  wished 


lie  CAfifiT  Life  at  West  PoinI*. 

pertaining  to  their  own  subjects  and  when  ready 
to  recite,  each  took  a  pointer  in  his  right  hand  and 
stood  at  ease  facing  the  instructor.  Beginning 
with  the  cadet  who  was  ready  and  had  the  small- 
est number,  w^hen  he  was  called  upon  to  recite 
the  cadet,  said:  "I  am  required  to"  and  then  gave 
his  enunciation,  after  which  he  proceeded  in  his 
own  words.  If  the  instructor  was  satisfied  with 
the  recitation,  he  said,  "that'll  do"  and  the  cadet 
faced  about,  laid  down  his  pointer,  cleaned  his 
board,  and  took  his  seat;  but  if  the  instructor 
was  not  satisfied  with  the  recitation,  he  asked 
such  questions  as  he  deemed  proper  to  draw  out,  if 
possible,  further  information  on  the  subject,  and 
when  through,  said,  "That'll  do."  This  drawing 
out  process  is  necessary  with  plebes,  until  they 
learn  what  is  required  of  them  in  the  way  of  reci- 
tations. No  communication  between  cadets  is 
allowed  in  the  section  room.  When  the  time  ex- 
pired the  instructor  said,  "That'll  do,  gentlemen; 
section's  dismissed."  If  the  bugle  was  sounded 
before  all  had  recited,  those  at  the  board  who 
were  ready  to  recite  and  had  all  necessary  work 
on  the  board,  were  marked  the  same  as  if  they 
had  recited.  The  cadets  filed  out  of  the  room,  got 
their  caps  and  "fell  in,"  then  marched  to  the  area 
where  the  line  was  formed  and  there  the  section 
was  dismissed.  The  mark  for  a  perfect  recitation 
is  a  3,  2.5  is  a  good  mark,  2  is  fair,  1.5  is  medium, 
1  poor,  .5  very  poor,  and  a  zero  a  complete  failure. 
Recitations  go  on  every  day  except  Saturday  after- 


THE    PLEBE    IN   BARRACKS.  117 

noons  and  Sundays.  On  Monday  the  marks  of  the 
previous  week  were  posted  so  that  the  cadets  could 
see  them.  The  instructor  never  told  the  cadets 
what  marks  he  gave  them,  and  he  could  not  ex- 
cuse a  cadet  from  recitation.  A  cadet  who  was 
sick  enough  to  require  it  was  taken  into  the  hospi- 
tal, or  by  the  surgeon  excused  from  reciting,  but  a 
cadet  excused  from  reciting  had  to  go  to  and  re- 
main in  the  section  room,  and  there  report  to  the 
instructor  that  he  was  excused.  Nothing  is  gained 
by  not  reciting,  because  every  cadet  must  make 
satisfactory  recitations  and  pass  the  examinations 
in  January  and  June  or  be  found  deficient.  At  the 
end  of  the  fifth  or  sixth  week,  and  at  times  after 
that,  transfers  from  one  section  to  another  were 
made,  and  some  cadets  were  sent  up  and  others 
down  to  other  sections.  By  Christmas,  the  plebe 
class  was  pretty  well  dissipated  by  transfers. 

Days,  weeks  and  months  passed  with  a  firm, 
steady  grind.  In  my  day  up  at  5,  but  now  5:45 
a.  m.,  and  nothing  but  study,  recitations  and  drill 
till  9:30  p.  m.,  except  during  the  short  half  hour 
for  recreation  after  each  meal,  the  welcome  half 
holiday  on  Saturdays  and  the  change  of  routine  on 
Sundays.  No  visitors  at  the  Point,  no  hops,  no 
nothing  but  hard  study  and  drill  to  look  forward 
to  until  the  next  June.  It  is  true  that  Thanksgiv- 
ing, Christmas  and  New  Year's  are  always  accepta- 
ble days  to  a  cadet,  but  he  generally  eats  so  much 
turkey  then,  that  he  receives  a  poor  mark  at  recita- 
tions the  next  day. 


118  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Not  long  before  examination  the  instructor  se- 
lects as  many  topics  as  there  are  cadets  in  his 
section  and  writes  each  topic  on  a  separate  piece 
of  paper,  turns  them  face  down,  mixes  them,  and 
then  numbers  them ;  number  one  being  for  the  first 
cadet  in  the  section,  number  two  for  the  second, 
and  so  on,  or  otherwise  mixes  them  so  that  no  par- 
tiality be  shown  on  examination. 

Of  course  we  could  not  study  all  of  the  time  set 
apart  for  study,  so  we  often  devised  ways  and 
means  to  lighten  our  burdens. 

All  of  our  coats  buttoned  up  to  the  chin  and  the 
white  collars  of  my  day  were  made  so  that  we  had 
to  fold  them  lengthwise  and  pin  them  on  the 
coat.  As  white  shirts  were  not  used  to  fasten  the 
collar  to  we  quit  wearing  them,  and  pinned  our 
cuffs  to  the  inside  of  the  coat  sleeves.  We  got  the 
knack' of  dressing  down  to  a  fine  point,  no  cadet 
wore  suspenders  then,  so  all  we  had  to  do  for 
reveille  or  tattoo,  was  to  jump  into  our  pants, 
stick  our  feet  into  our  oldest  shoes,  from  which 
the  strings  had  been  removed,  and  called  "reveil- 
les," put  on  the  coat  and  cap  to  be  worn  and  hustle, 
buttoning  up  just  before  going  out  of  the  hall-door. 
Two  minutes  gave  us  ample  time  to  get  from  our 
rooms  to  the  line  in  the  area.  Now  the  cadets  are 
required  to  wear  white  shirts  and  the  style  of  the 
white  collar  having  been  changed  it  requires  a 
white  shirt  to  fasten  it  to. 

A  cadet  generally  carries  his  lead  pencil  stuck 
into  his  coat  near  the  throat,  but  I  made  a  little 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  119 

pocket  on  the  underside  of  the  tail  of  my  dress- 
coat,  just  big"  enough  for  a  little  pen  knife  and  a 
pencil  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  and  I  never  got 
"skinned"  for  it  either.  In  my  day,  the  last  section 
was  called  "the  Immortals"  but  I  am  told  that  the 
"Goats"  have  captured  the  name  I  once  knew  so 
well. 

For  many  years,  "Old  Bentz"  blew  the  bugle 
calls  for  recitations  and  mid  rain  or  snow,  he 
never  missed  a  call,  he  blew  it  first  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Barracks,  near  the  "Sally  Port,"  and 
then  in  the  area.  Many  a  cadet  has  stood  at  the 
blackboard,  not  ready  to  recite,  praying  for  ohi 
Bentz  to  blow;  once  in  a  while  he  would  succeed  in 
"bugling  it,"  that  is,  avoid  a  recitation,  but  as  the 
instructors  have  all  been  cadets  themselves,  the 
poor  fellow  was  generally  called  upon  to  recite 
and  got  1.5  or  less  for  his  pains. 

A  day  or  two  after  returning  to  barracks  I  was 
on  post  one  evening  in  the  hall  of  the  old  "sixth 

div."  when  D m,  of  my  class,  who  lived  in  that 

"div."  passed  through  the  hall  mth  his  coat  un- 
buttoned. Of  course  I  reported  him  for  it.  The 
next  day  the  report  was  on  the  list  of  delinquencies 
read  out  to  the  battalion  by  the  cadet  adjutant. 
Aftersupper  that  evening  another  classmate  called 

on  me  and  asked  what  I  had  against  D m,  I 

said  I  had  nothing  against  him  and  I  wanted  to 

know  why  he  asked.    He  replied  that  D m  was 

very  angry  with  me  for  having  reported  him  for 
"coat  unbuttoned  in  hall  of  barracks."    I  was  sur- 


120  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

prised  and  said  that  I  had  to  report  him  or  tell  a 
lie  to  the  officer  or  corporal  of  the  guard.  Up  to 
that  time  D m  had  not  been  on  guard  in  bar- 
racks and  he  did  not  know  the  orders,  so  he  con- 
sulted an  upper  classman  about  the  report  and 
learned  that  I  had  done  my  duty.  Then  he  came 
to  me  and  said,  "I  sent  a  friend  to  challenge  you 
but  find  that  you  are  right  and  I  wrong,  so  I  want 
to  beg  your  pardon."    Had  I  not  have  reported 

D m  I  would  have  gotten  into  serious  trouble, 

because  the  cadets  themselves  have  no  use  for  a 
liar  or  a  thief.  As  I  have  said  the-rooms  of  bar- 
racks are  never  locked,  hence  any  cadet  will 
promptly  report  another  for  stealing  and  the  thief 
is  summarily  dealt  with  by  the  authorities. 

In  barracks  sentinels  are  posted  in  the  eight 
halls,  and  they  walk  post  only  during  meal  hours, 
evening  call  to  quarters,  and  Sunday  call  to  quar- 
ters. When  a  relief  is  to  be  taken  off  post  and  no 
new  sentinels  are  to  be  posted,  such  as  after  meals 
and  at  tattoo,  the  corporal  of  the  relief  on  post,  be- 
ginning at  the  first  division  hall,  calls,  "No.  1  Off," 
marches  him  to  the  second  division  and  calls,  "No. 
2  Off,"  and  so  on  until  the  eight  sentinels  are  off, 
the  relief  is  then  marched  to  the  guard  house,  and 
there  dismissed.  The  spirit  of  deviltry  used  to 
crop  out  in  the  average  fourth  classman,  as  soon 
as  his  plebe  camp  was  over,  and  he  often  laid 
awake  at  night  devising  ways  and  means  for  sweet 
revenge  upon  the  next  class  or  even  upon  the 
"Seps"  of  his  own  class,  before  they  became  ac- 


THE    PLEBE    IN   BARRACKS.  121 

quainted  with  one  another.  One  night  a  June 
plebe  discovered  that  the  sentinels  on  Posts  1,  2 
and  3,  were  Seps  of  his  own  class,  and  that  they 
were  on  guard  for  their  first  time.  A  happy 
thought  came  to  this  June  plebe.  He  put  on  his 
overcoat,  turned  the  collar  up  to  hide  his  face, 
got  his  rifle,  and  just  before  time  for  the  Corporal 
to  taJ^e  off  his  Relief  at  tattoo,  this  plebe  took  off 
the  Relief  himself.  The  first  three  sentinels  being 
green  Seps  "fell  in"  without  a  suspicion  of  any- 
thing wrong,  and  the  older  cadets  of  the  Relief 
knowing  that  it  was  about  time  to  be  relieved, 
also  fell  in.  Just  as  the  June  plebe  was  approach- 
ing the  guard  house  with  the  Relief,  Lieutenant 

K g  saw  the  Corporal  of  this  Relief  in  the 

guard  house  watching  the  clock,  hence  he  knew 
that  some  devilment  w^as  up.  The  plebe  saw  that 
the  Lieutenant  saw  him,  so  he  fled  to  his  room, 
with  the  Lieutenant  after  him  and  the  members  of 
the  Relief  ran  back  to  their  posts.  The  plebe  was 
caught  and  he  walked  "extras"  for  many  a  Satur- 
day afternoon  for  his  fun ;  and  the  Corporal  was  re- 
duced to  the  ranks  for  allowing  his  Relief  to  be 
improperly  relieved. 

Cadets  do  not  salute  one  another  except  on  oc- 
casions of  ceremony  prescribed  by  the  regulations. 
Plebes  address  one  another  as  Jones  or  Smith, 
but  they  say  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Smith  in  speaking 
of  them  to  an  officer,  or  to  an  upper  classman.  In 
speaking  to  or  of  an  officer,  they  use  his  title,  but 
in  speaking  to  or  of  an  upper  classman,  they  say 


122,  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Mr.  White  or  Mr.  Black.  Upper  classmen  address 
one  another  as  White  and  Black,  but  they  say  Mr. 
W^hite  or  Mr.  Black  in  speaking  of  them  to  an 
officer  or  to  a  plebe.  In  speaking  to  or  of  an  officer 
they  use  his  title,  but  in  speaking  to  or  of  a  plebt^, 
they  say  Mr.  Jones  or  Mr.  Smith.  Officers  in  speak- 
ing to  or  of  a  cadet  say  Mr.  Jones  or  Mr.  White. 
Cadet  titles  are  used  only  by  the  cadets  having 
them,  and  then  only  in  their  permits  and  explana- 
tions, thus — Cadet  Corporal,  Cadet  Sergeant,  etc. 
Except  officially,  officers  and  cadets  rarely  speak 
to  one  another.  At  first  it  seemed  very  strange 
to  recite  to  an  officer  for  months,  and  to  pass  him 
on  the  plain  without  a  friendly  word  being  ex- 
changed, the  military  salute  being  the  only  recog- 
nition. It  is  best  that  it  is  that  way,  as  it  avoids 
intimacy  and  favoritism. 

When  the  first  snow  fell,  I  was  greatly  amused 
to  see  one  of  my  classmates  who  had  never  seen  it 
snow.  He  ran  out  into  the  area  bare-headed  (and 
was  reported  for  being  in  the  area  without  cap). 
He  held  out  his  hands  and  then  opened  his  mouth 
to  catch  the  flakes;  it  was  a  soft  fine  snow  and 
melted  as  soon  as  it  touched  a.nything,  so  he  could 
not  catch  any  of  the  flakes,  yet  he  could  see  them 
in  the  air  and  he  appeared  dumbfounded. 

Now  that  we  did  not  have  to  carry  palms  of  the 
hands  to  the  front  we  used  to  walk  more  about  the 
post.  I  say  walk,  because  we  were  not  allowed  to 
ride.  We  found  our  way  occasionally  to  the  Dutch- 
woman's, near  the  postoffice  (as  no  permits  were 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  123 

needed  to  go  there  in  my  day),  where  cadets  having 
a  little  change,  or  who,  being  out  of  debt,  could  get 
ice  cream,  cakes,  pies,  etc.  On  Saturday  after- 
noons we  went  down  "Flirtation  Walk,"  a  beauti- 
ful stroll  along  the  Hudson,  or  up  to  Cro'  Nest,  the 
highest  peak  for  miles  around,  or  to  old  Fort 
Putnam,  on  a  hill  west  of  the  Barracks,  and  once 
in  a  while  to  Kinsley's  orchard.  The  only  reason  I 
can  think  of  having  gone  to  Kinsley's  is,  that  it 
was  then  "off  limits,"  and  the  Kegulations  said 
cadets  caught  off  limits  should  be  dismissed,  or 
otherwise  less  severely  punished.  Christmas  sea- 
son had  much  in  store  for  us.  We  received  boxes 
of  sweetmeats  from  home,  we  had  a  theatrical  per- 
formance in  the  Mess  Hall,  and  some  of  us,  and  I 
was  one,  had  a  three  days  "leave"  from  the  Point. 
This  leave  was  granted  to  cadets  having  not  over 
six  demerits  for  the  past  six  months.  But  few 
cadets  obtained  leaves,  and  those  who  did  were 
envied  by  the  less  fortunate  fellows.  Everybody 
enjoyed  the  boxes  from  home,  because  cadets  are 
proverbially  generous,  and  divide  their  good 
things  with  those  who  do  not  receive  boxes.  Many 
were  "skinned"  and  given  demerits  for  grease  upon 
their  floors  after  the  boxes  came.  The  cadets  are 
not  now  permitted  to  receive  Christmas  boxes.  An 
entertainment  was  given  on  New  Year's  Eve,  in 
the  Mess  Hall.  A  temporary  stage  was  erected, 
and  all  of  the  actors,  "actresses"  and  members  of 
the  orchestra  were  cadets. 


124  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

A  PARODY  ON  HOHENLINDEN. 

At  Wes.  Point,  when  the  sun  was  low, 
All  spotless  lay  the  untrodden  snow. 
And  dark  as  winter  was  the  flow 
Of  Hudson  rolling  rapidly. 

But  West  Point  saw  another  sight. 
Loud  groans  were  heard  at  dead  of  night. 
And  plebeians  howled  with  wild  affright. 
Whilst  dreaming  of  Geometry. 

'Twas  morn,  but  on  that  luckless  day 
The  morning  brought  no  cheering  ray, 
To  pierce  the  mist  of  Algebra, 
Or  clear  it  of  perplexity. 

In  glittering  armor,  bright  arrayed. 
Each  teacher  drew  his  battle  blade, 
And  furious  each  plebeian  made. 
To  witness  such  pomposity. 

Then  shook  the  hills  with  thunder  riven, 
As  each  plebe  to  the  blackboard  driven. 
Despairing  of  all  hopes  of  Heaven, 
In  view  of  his  deficiency 

And  fainter  still  his  hopes  did  grow. 
When  he  received  a  big  zero; 
His  throbbing  bosom  rent  with  woe, 
The  tears  came  rolling  rapidly. 

"Immortals"  falter!    On!  ye  brave! 
Who  rush  to  glory  or  the  grave, 
Wave!  plebeians;  All  thy  banners  wave! 
And  charge  that  Trigonometry. 

The  lesson  o'er — the  hovering  cloud 
Hath  burst  in  torrents,  wild  and  loud, 
And  buried  in  one  common  shroud 
The  essence  of  stupidity. 

The  "found"  shall  part,  no  more  to  meet. 
For  Math  has  been  their  winding  sheet. 
And  every  "hash"  they  now  shall  eat 
Brings  curses  to  the  memory. 


"Programme 


OF  THE 


Entertainment  Given  by  the 
U.  S.  Corps  of  Cadets, 


NEW  YEAR'S  EVE.,  18. 
WEST  POINT. 


125 


126  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


Overture  Orchestra 

PART  I. 

PADDY  MILES,  THE  LIMERICK  BOY. 

(A  drama  of  Corinthian  lightness.) 

DRAMATIS    PERSONAE. 

Paddy  Miles Cadet  Shortelle 

(The  Greek.) 

Dr.  Coates Cadet  Wood 

(Spooney  and  Fidgety.) 

Henry,  his  son Cadet  Cobb 

(No  joke  here.) 

Job,  a  gardener Cadet  Guard 

(Biles  with  rage.) 

Reuben Cadet  Hall 

(Randy— O!     High.) 

Mrs.  Fidget Cadet  Paddock 

(See  joke  on  Dr.  Coates.) 

Jane Cadet  Fornance 

(The  Girl  of  the  period.) 

Guitar  Duet Cadets  Evans  and  Harrington 

Music Orchestra 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  127 


PART  II. 

DARK  TRAGEDY  OF  OTHELLO,  THE  MOOR  OF  VENICE. 

Othello Cadet  Davis 

(Ye  Swarthy  Moor.) 

Desdemona Cadet  McDonald 

(As  was  gone  back  on.) 

Prabantio Cadet  McGinniss 

Puke.'. Cadet  "Doylle" 

Senators,  Assassins,  Collectors  of  Internal  Revenue,  etc.,  by 
the  Company. 

Music  Orchestra 


128  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


PART    III, 

THE    LIGHTSOME    FARCE    OF    GRIMSHAW,   BAGSHAW 
AND  BRADSHAW. 

Peter  Grimshaw Cadet  Williams 

(Christened  Peter  after  his  Aunt  Sarah.) 

John  Bagshaw Cadet  Goddard 

("Trust  him  not.") 

BRADSHAW  !  !  ! Cadet  Fountain 

(Bastante  dicho — "wich"  it  is  Spanish.) 

Towser Cadet  Wood 

(Characteristics:     Heart  flinty,  Conchoidal  fracture.) 

Fanny,  a  milliner Cadet  Townsend 

(A-lass!  not  a  Millionaire.) 

Emily,  Towser's  niece Cadet  Birney 

(Same    at    same.) 

Music  .* Orchestra 


] 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  129 


PART  IV. 

««DARKER  HERE." 

MINSTRELS,  BY  THE  CADET  BAND. 
1. 

Overture,   "Les  Dames  de   Seville," Cadet  Band 

The  Bell  Goes  Ringing  for  Sarah Solo  and  Chorus 

Linda  Polka Cadet  Band 

Little  Maggie  May Solo  and  Chorus 

We  Parted  by  the  River  Side Company 

Selection Cadet  Band 

Clog  Dance Cadet  Bassett 

2. 

Selections Cadet  Band 

Fairy  Moonlight Quartette 

West  Point  Polka  and  Selection Cadet  Band 

My  Christmas  Leave Solo 

Et  Bonde  Cryllup Cadet  Band 

Rootle  Turn  Tootle  Turn  Tay Solo  and  Chorus 

Galop  Militaire Cadet  Band 


130  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


NO  HURDLES. 

"GENERAL  REGULATIONS." 

Those  unable  to  secure  seats  will  be  permitted  to  visit  the 
Guard-house,  where  they  will  find  amusement  during  the  entire 
entertainment  in  the  perusal  of  the  delinquences  posted  there. 

In  consideration  of  the  almost  perfect  disguise  which  may 
be  effected  through  the  magic  agency  of  burnt  cork,  by  which 
even  the  dignified  features  of  our  Professors  can  be  effectually 
concealed,  we  would  enjoin  upon  the  audience  a  respect  for 
gravity  during  the  minstrel  performance;  and  the  managers 
would  take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  the  "Heads  of  De- 
partments" for  the  very  affable  manner  in  which  they  have 
consented  to  contribute,  by  their  Terpsichorean  and  Ethiopian 
efforts  to  the  evening's  amusement. 

Owing  to  the  probability  of  the  hall  being  inspected  by  the 
"OjBBcer  in  charge,"  after  the  Battalion  has  returned  to  Bar- 
racks, the  managers  earnestly  solicit  the  destruction  of  all 
vestiges  of  this  "Feast  of  reason,"  as  it  is  not  mentioned  on  the 
"Cadets'  Bill  of  Fare"  for  this  date.  First  classmen  are  rec- 
ommended to  preserve  the  "Flow  of  soul"  for  use  to-morrow, 
in  case  the  Superintendents  may  not  be  pleased  to  release 
them  from  "pledge." 

The  managers  respectfully  call  attention  to  their  endeavors 
to  produce  that  long  desired  "mean"  equally  removed  from 
"Corinthian  lightness,  and  Egyptian  massiveness." 

Should  the  performers  attempt  to  "consume  time,"  or  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  audience  be  kindled  'to  such  an  extent  as  to 
create  apprehension  for  the  safety  of  the  building,  the  services 
of  the  Fire  Department,  under  the  able  management  of  its 
efficient  "Chief  Engineer,"  will  be  called  into  requisition — 
(provided  the  nozzle  can  be  found.) 

MANAGERS: 

S.    W.    FOUNTAIN,         '  R.    A.    WILLIAMS, 

E.    M.     COBB,  A.     H.     RUSSELL, 

A.  E.  WOOD. 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  131 

The  semi-annual  examination  commenced  right 
after  New  Years  and  when  the  class  standing* 
was  announced,  about  thirty  cadets  were  found 
deficient,  and  discharged.  At  least  half  the  de- 
ficient ones  were  in  my  class,  and  the  balance  in  the 
other  three  classes.  Those  near  the  foot  of  my  class, 
who  passed,  but  about  whom  doubts  had  been 
entertained  as  to  their  ability  to  get  through,  were 
now  furnished  with  warm  cloth  overcoats  of  the 
regulation  cadet  gray.  The  sections  were  rear- 
ranged according  to  the  standing  determined  by 
the  examinations,  text  books  for  the  next  five 
months  were  drawn,  lessons  assigned  and  studies 
resumed.  Shortly  after  our  class  standing  had 
been  published,  the  class  was  sent  to  the  Library, 
where  we  again  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and 
in  due  time  afterwards  each  fourth  classman  re- 
ceived his  "cadet  warrant." 

The  plebes  now  began  to  make  the  best  show 
they  could  both  about  their  rooms  and  in  their 
personal  apearance.  Those  who  could  do  so  pro- 
cured curtains  for  the  windows,  alcoves  and  clothes 
presses,  all  turkey  red  of  course  as  that  was  the 
regulation  color.  When  they  got  new  clothes,  they 
were  particular  about  the  fit,  especially  of  the 
dress  coats,  as  their  waists  had  grown  more 
shapely,  caused  by  wearing  close  fitting  clothes 
and  belts,  which  required  the  chest  and  not  the 
abdomen  to  be  used  for  breathing.  They  had  their 
old  dress  coats  made  smaller  in  the  waist,  too. 


♦See  Appendix  xx. 


132  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Cadets  having  a  taste  for  music  were  permitted 
to  have  such  musical  instruments  as  banjos,  gui- 
tars and  flutes,  and  during  "release  from  quarters" 
they  could  practice.  Musical  spirits  were  soon 
brought  together,  and  after  the  players  became 
proficient  they  attracted  attention.  Aside  from 
those  who  played  upon  instruments,  there  were 
some  who  had  very  good  voices.  When  pleasant 
spring  evenings  came,  the  musicians  would  often 
assemble  on  one  of  the  front  steps  of  the  Barracks 
and  their  sweet  music  and  songs  attracted  all  other 
cadets.  Often  would  the  officers,  their  ladies  and 
the  few^  visitors  at  the  Point  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  stroll  near  the  cadet  Barracks  to  hear  music 
and  songs,  and  even  Old  Bentz  would  look  at  his 
watch  a  dozen  times*  and  wait  till  the  last  second 
to  sound  "Call  to  Quarters."  One  evening,  Chris- 
tine Mlsson,  the  famous  "Swedish  singer,'"  who 
was  visiting  the  Point,  was  so  attracted  by  the 
singing  of  the  cadets  that  she  consented  to  sing 
for  the  whole  corps  on  condition  that  the  cadet 
quartette  would  sing  for  her.  Her  proposition  was 
accepted  and  the  Mess  Hall  was  used  for  the  pur- 
pose. Of  course  we  were  charmed  by  her  sweet 
voice  and  she  complimented  the  quartette,  too, 

and  Cadet  W r  in  particular.  Miss  Nilsson  told 

him  that  he  ought  to  cultivate  his  voice  and  that 
if  he  would  resign  she  herself  would  pay  for  his 

musical    education    in    Europe.     Cadet    W r 

thanked  her  for  her  generous  offer,  but  declined 
to   accept    it.       Miss    Nilsson    then     said     that 


„ a   CADET   m   ^iCe■ 


Qvlt/itaiu  &rcivu)e  c/  ^^e    UKITED  STATES,    <fc    iann    OJ   ^ucn   /icm  iAe 

(/au  cjf •  fa         ,       &T^  ti>   /ueie/oic   <<?  ve 

ie<;et'vea   tvim   atif  iAe   coiuiaclait'on   aUacuea   io  McA   ajfi^o^imejff^ 

^lljtn  un(/eP  mu  4an(/  a(  inc  war  deeartment,  IM: — .,- 

(/au   o/ . _ ,  t'ti    ine  ^eaP  c*   cuP  ,£t<>ia   one  {nou^ana 

e^^i  ^unc/ut^  ane/ ,  anc{  e/ i^e  INDEPENDEXCE  OF  THE  UNITED  8TATE8 


(^eUtat^  t/  /%*. 


183 


THE    PLEBE   IN   BARRACKS.  135 

the  cadets  must  pay  for  her  singing,  and 
that  she  would  make  the  collection  at  once. 
She  was  promptly  informed  that  cadets  were 
not  allowed  to  have  money,  and  that  they 
did  not  even  have  pockets  in  their  clothes. 
She  replied  every  cadet  had  with  him  that  which 
she  wanted,  namely  a  bell-button,  and  she  was 
particular  about  the  one  too,  and  said,  "I  want 
the  spooney  button,  the  one  from  over  the  heart." 
She  produced  a.  string  and  we  filed  past  her  and 
each  cadet  gladly  paid  her  price.  The  oflQcers  pres- 
ent on  this  occasion  neglected  their  duty  for  not 
reporting  every  cadet,  for  "a  button  off  dress  coat 
in  Mess  ITall."  About  once  a  month  on  Saturday 
evenings  during  the  winter  the  band  gave  orches- 
tra concerts  at  which  cadets  could  be  present. 

One  day,  S s,  one  of  my  classmates,  took  sick 

with  typhoid  fever,  and  was  confined  to  bed  in  the 
hospital  for  weeks.  We  took  turns  sitting  up  at 
night  with  him.  When  he  became  dangerously  ill, 
his  parents  were  notified,  and  they  came  at  once 
and  were  with  him  some  days  before  he  died.  An 
order  was  published  announcing  his  death,  and 
the  loss  of  a  valuable  member  of  the  corps,  and 
directed  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  his  memory,  that 
all  cadets  should  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourn- 
ing; that  is,  a  four-inch  band  of  black  crape  around 
the  left  arm,  above  the  elbow,  for  a  period  of  thirty 
days,  and  that  the  flag  should  be  at  half-staff  on 
the  day  of  the  funeral.  The  pallbearers  were 
chosen  from  his  class  and  the  funeral  services  held 


136  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POiNf . 

in  the  little  chapel.  The  coffin  was  carried  from 
the  chapel,  arms  were  presented,  the  band  played 
an  appropriate  air,  and  then  the  coffin  was  laid 
upon  an  artillery  caisson  draped  with  the  stars 
and  stripes.  We  marched  to  solemn  music,  with 
"arms  reversed,"  to  the  beautiful  little  cadet  ceme- 
tery just  outside  of  the  north  gate  overlooking  the 
Hudson  at  the  foot  of  the  highest  peak  of  the  High- 
lands. Upon  reaching  the  grave,  line  was  formed 
facing  it,  and  the  coffin  placed  over  it;  arms  were 
again  presented  and  the  band  played  another 
solemn  air;  the  body  was  then  lowered  to  its  last 
resting  place.  We  stood  with  bowed  heads  at 
rest  on  arms,  while  the  Chaplain  conducted  the 
services  at  the  grave.  We  then  fired  three  rounds 
of  blank  cartridges  and  returned  to  barracks. 
After  leaving  the  cemetery,  we  came  to  "right 
shoulder"  arms,  and  marched  to  a  quick  step.  Dur- 
ing my  day  the  corps  of  cadets  attended  a  great 
many  funerals,  and  among  them  were  those  of 
three  of  our  professors,  two  or  more  cadets,  and 
a  number  of  old  graduates  of  the  Academy. 

We  fourth  classmen  now  began  to  talk  of  June 
first,  the  day  on  which  we  would  become  yearlings 
and  be  admitted  to  the  corps  on  equality  with 
the  other  classmen;  of  the  dropping  of  the  Mr.,  of 
the  shedding  of  our  "plebe-skins"  and  how  that 
great  event  should  be  celebrated ;  of  how  we  would 
treat  the  next  class,  of  which  of  us  would  be  made 
corporals,  of  the  hops,  of  the  ladies  who  come  up 
in  June,  and  of  other  topics  of  vital  interest  to 


J 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  137 

fourth  classmen.  At  a  class  meeting  we  selected 
six  hop  managers,  six  being  our  share  for  the  sum- 
mer hops,  and  we  selected  them  by  ballot.  There 
were  no  nominations,  it  having  been  decided  that 
the  six  receiving  the  greatest  number  of  votes 
should  be  elected,  and  I  was  not  one  of  the  six. 
About  the  twenty-fifth  of  May  D  Company  va- 
cated its  quarters  and  they  were  put  in  order  for 
the  candidates,  who  reported  in  my  day  between 
the  first  and  tenth  of  June;  now  they  do  not  report 
until  later  in  June,  after  the  cadets  have  gone  into 
camp. 

The  academic  year  practically  closed  on  the 
31st  of  May,  and  on  the  next  day  the  battalion  was 
to  again  appear  in  its  summer  clothes;  that  is,  in 
white  pants  and  gray  coats.  White  pants  are  the 
forerunners  of  the  many  changes  to  soon  occur  at 
the  Point;  a  class  to  be  graduated,  another  to  go 
on  furlough,  and  the  other  two,  with  a  new  class 
added  to  the  corps,  to  go  into  camp;  the  members 
of  the  Board  of  Visitors  and  hundreds  of  other 
people  to  arrive,  some  to  witness  the  graduating 
exercises,  old  graduates  to  attend  their  alumni 
meeting,  others  to  see  relatives  in  the  corps,  and 
still  others  to  attend  the  summer  hops.  But  with 
all  these  and  other  pleasures  in  store  for  the  ca- 
dets about  a  dozen  of  the  plebes  were  not  satisfied. 
They  knew  that  on  the  morrow  candidates  would' 
begin  to  report,  and  that  then  they  themselves- 
would  shed  their  plebe-skins,  drop  the  Mr.  and  bCf 
full-fledged  "yearlings."    In  order  to  mark  this 


138  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

great  event  in  the  life  of  a  cadet  at  West  Point  we 
had  months  before  decided  upon  doing  something 
that  no  other  yearlings  had  done.  Away  back  in 
April,  while  at  light  battery  drill,  we  "hived"  some 
powder,  by  taking  a  little  from  a  dozen  or  more 
cartridges,  and  we  also  "hived"  some  friction- 
primers.  The  night  of  May  31st  was  cloudy  and 
hazy,  which  just  suited  us,  and  the  tactical  officer 
favored  us  by  inspecting  every  room  before  mid- 
night. At  about  half-past  eleven  we  tied 
the  handle  of  the  angle  door  to  an  upright 
of  the  porch  and  fastened  a  rope  to  the 
posts  at  the  head  of  the  angle  porch  stairs, 
and  then  went  one  at  a  time  out  to  the 
"reveille  gun"  that  stood  near  execution  hollow 
away  out  on  the  plain.  We  loaded  that  gun  and 
then  put  in  it  all  of  our  old  socks  and  rammed  the 
charge  well.  Some  of  our  trusty  party  got  can- 
non balls  at  Trophy  Point  and  joined  the  others  at 
the  gun.  We  then  wheeled  the  gun  near  the 
gravel  walk  in  front  of  the  barracks,  and  one  of 
our  party  went  on  the  grass  to  the  right  and  an- 
other to  the  left.  These  two  then  made  noises  that 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  two  engineer  senti- 
nels posted  at  night  on  the  gravel  walk,  and  sig- 
naled that  our  coast  was  clear.  We  then  rushed 
across  the  walk  through  the  Sally  Fort  and  fired 
that  gun  in  the  area.  At  the  same  time  the  can- 
fion  balls  w^ere  rolled  along  the  porches  in  rear  of 
barracks,  then  we  hastened  to  our  rooms,  un- 
dressed and  went  to  bed  to  await  developments. 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  139 

Oh,  what  a  dandy  report  that  gun  made;  it  shook 
the  barracks  and  other  buildings,  too,  and  shat- 
tered windows  all  around.  The  cannon  balls  were 
also  a  great  success,  for  they  made  a  horrible  rum- 
bling sound.    We  awoke  everj^body.    Lieutenant 

M 1  was  "oflScer  in  charge,"  and  we  soon  heard 

him  tugging  away  at  the  angle  door  and  then 
stumble  against  the  clothesline  that  we  had  so 
thoughtfully  put  up  for  his  special  benefit.  He 
called  the  "drummer  orderly,"  who  slept  in  the 
guard-house  and  had  long  roll  sounded.  He  ques- 
tioned the  cadet  officers,  but,  of  course,  they  knew 
nothing;  then,  as  he  himself  had  been  a  cadet,  he 
made  the  new-born  yearlings  fall  in  and  told  them 
that  the  outrage  had  been  committed  by  some  of 
them,  and  that  the  guilty  ones  should  be  punished. 
He  then  said  that  all  who  had  not  taken  part  in 
the  disgraceful  affair  could  fall  out  and  go  to  their 
quarters;  the  guilty  ones  trembled  in  their  shoes, 
but  soon  recovered,  for  not  a  man  fell  out.  The 
night  was  raw  and  chilly,  but  there  the  Lieutenant 
made  us  stand,  first  at  attention,  then  at  parade 
rest  and  then  at  attention  again.  The  innocent 
were  once  more  told  to  fall  out,  but  not  a  man 
moved.  We  were  then  put  into  the  guard-house 
and  several  of  us  obtained  permission  to  go  to  our 
rooms  for   overcoats.     Line  was   re-formed  and 

B ly  directed  to  call  the  roll.     I  was  in  my 

own  room  at  this  time  and  could  see  and  hear 
what  was  going  on  in  the  area.  I  knew  that 
J5 Ij  had  not  called  the  class  rolj  for  months, 


140  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

SO  I  staid  in  my  room  and  listened  to  the  roll-call, 
and  when  I  discovered  that  I  was  not  reported  ab- 
sent  I   went   to   bed.     Lieutenant   M 1   then 

marched  the  yearlings  out  on  the  cavalry  plain 
and  drilled  them  at  double  time  for  several  hours. 
He  stood  still  some  times  and  marched  the  class 
around  him,  and  as  he  was  not  always  near  enough 
to  distinguish  one  yearling  from  another  in  the 
dark  there  were  many  blunders  purposely  made 
in  ranks,  and  this  made  him  furious.  After  awhile 
Colonel  B k,  the  Commandant,  put  in  his  ap- 
pearance, and  then  the  class  behaved  all  right,  but 
it  was  kept  at  drill  till  near  breakfast  time.  Be- 
fore being  dismissed  Colonel  B k  told  the  in- 
nocent ones  to  fall  out,  but  not  a  man  left  the 
ranks.  The  class  was  then  dismissed,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  battalion  w^as  formed  for  break- 
fast, and,  of  course,  I  fell  in  then.  Before  march- 
ing to  the  Mess  Hall  an  order  was  published  con- 
fining all  members  of  the  fourth  class,  except  one 
who  was  in  the  hospital,  to  the  area  of  the  bar- 
racks until  further  orders.  Some  of  the  class  had 
relatives  and  friends  at  the  Point,  and  the  confine- 
ment was  hard  on  them,  because  cadets  in  confine- 
ment cannot  see  their  friends  for  longer  than  half 
an  hour,  and  then  only  in  the  visitors'  room  in  the 
guard-house. 

A  salute  of  seventeen  guns  was  fired  by  a  detail 
of  cadets  in  honor  of  the  arrival  of  the  Board  of 
Visitors.  There  was  much  of  interest  now  at  the 
Point  for  the  Board  and  others  to  see.     Beginning 


SEDGWICK    MONUMENT.  CADET  MONUMENT. 

PROFESSORS'    ROW. 


THE    PLEBE    IN    BARRACKS.  143 

with  guard-mount  (now  at  8  o'clock),  then  oral  ex- 
aminations from  9  to  4  followed  infantry,  artillery 
or  cavalry  drill,  and  the  day  closing  with  dress 
parade  at  sunset.  The  rear  view  of  the  cadets 
marching  at  double  time,  to  or  from  dress  parade, 
out  on  the  grassy  plain  is  a  beautiful  sight,  es- 
pecially when  white  pants  are  worn,  for  then  the 
wavy  motion  of  the  handsome  uniforms  with  the 
black  shoes  alternating  against  the  white  pants 
and  the  green  grass  once  seen  is  a  sight  never  for- 
gotten. In  the  evening  the  cadets,  except  those  in 
confinement,  and  their  friends  could  be  together 
for  an  hour  or  two  at  the  hotel  or  at  some  of  the 
officers'  quarters,  provided,  of  course,  that  the  ca- 
dets had  "permits."  Not  to  speak  of  a  hand- 
some display  of  fireworks  on  one  evening  and  the 
graduating  hop  on  another.  During  all  these  fes- 
tivities, which  lasted  about  three  weeks,  the  cadets 
and  candidates  were  undergoing  rigid  examina- 
tions, and  at  which  many  failed.  Lists  of  the  suc- 
cessful ones  were  announced,  the  graduates  and 
furloughmen  left  and  the  others  went  into  camp. 
Some  of  the  "found"  were  turned  back  to  join  the 
next  class,  while  the  others  were  discharged. 
On  the  morning  after  we  had  fired  the  gun  in  the 

area  Colonel  B k  sent  for  me,  showed  me  one 

of  my  own  slippers  and  told  me  that  it  had  been 
picked  up  that  morning  on  the  walk  in  front  of 
the  barracks,  and  as  it  had  my  name  in  it  he 
wanted  me  to  explain  how  the  slipper  got  out  of 
my  room.     I  told  him  that  I  didn't  know,  as  the 


144  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

last  time  I  had  worn  or  seen  it  was  on  the  pre- 
vious evening  before  taps.  He  did  not  ask  me  if  I 
had  taken  part  in  the  "disgraceful"  affair.  All  of 
his  questioning  could  get  nothing  more  out  of  me, 
because  I  told  the  truth.  I  afterwards  learned 
how  the  slipper  did  get  out  on  the  walk.  When  D 
Company  vacated  its  quarters  for  the  new  class 

C J  came  over  to  room  with  L ^t  and  me, 

and  unbeknown  to  me  he  had  worn  my  slippers, 
and  as  he  was  one  of  the  two  cadets  chased  by  the 
engineer  sentinels  he  lost  it,  and  then  for  fear  that 
he  and  I  might  both  be  caught  he  did  not  mention 
the  fact  to  me  until  after  my  return  from  the  Com- 
mandant's office. 

Three  of  my  class  were  turned  out  over  new  ca- 
dets, and  others  of  the  class  detailed  to  help  drill 
them,  and  when  the  new  list  of  corporals  was  pub- 
lished I  had  the  pleasure  of  writing  home  that  I 
was  one  of  the  few  yearlings  to  wear  chevrons. 

After  the  publication  of  the  new  lists  of  class 
standing  I  called  upon  one  of  the  unfortunates  to 
express  regret  that  he  had  not  passed.  He  seemed 
to  be  very  indifferent  about  having  been  found, 
and  said  that,  after  a  long  search  on  his  "family 
tree,"  he  had  on  that  day  made  the  fortunate  dis- 
covery that  he  was  the  nineteenth  cousin  of  Queen 
Victoria! 

While  in  confinement  C ^y  wrote  a  song  com- 
memorating the  firing  of  the  gun  in  the  area,  and 
the  song  was  very  popular  in  my  day.  The  follow- 
ing is  my  version  of  it: 


THE   PLEBE  IN   BARRACKS.  14S 


WHO  FIRED  THAT  GUN  IN  THE  AREA? 


In  eighteen  hundred  and 

Some  plebes  went  out  on  the  plain  so  free, 
Played  the  mischief  generally, 
And  fired  the  gun  in  the  area. 

They  locked  them  up  in  the  old  guard-house. 
And  bade  them  be  as  still  as  a  mouse; 
They  whooped  and  yelled  and  kicked  about. 
And  fired  the  gun  in  the  area. 

They  made  them  at  the  attention  stand, 
With  rifles  held  all  tight  in  the  hand, 
But  no  one  "peached"  on  any  man 
Who  fired  the  gun  in  the  area. 

Then  Gussie  M.  said:    "Oh,  don't  you  see 
There's  no  use  of  your  fooling  with  me? 
I'll  make  you  stand  till  'Reveille' 
For  firing  gun  in   the  area. 

"And  if  you  rascals  don't  all  be  still. 
Of  punishment  you  shall  have  your  fill — 
I'll  take  you  on  the  plain  to  drill 
For  firing  gun  in  the  area." 

He  marched  them  round   at  the  double  time — 
Egad!  that  drill  it  was  very  fine; 
From  everything  they  took  the  shine, 
And  fired  the  gun  in  the  area. 

This  man  he  got  into  such  a  state 
That  ev'ry  plebe  he  wanted  to  ate. 
And  said  they  were  insubord'nate. 
And  fired  the  gun  in  the  area. 


146 


CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


Then  Harry  B.  just  raves  and  hollers, 
"Leave  them  alone,  the  bad  young  bothers; 
Confine  them  till  further  orders, 
For  firing  gun  in  the  area." 


Yearlings  the  plebes  all  became  that  day. 
And  paid  the  price  for  being  so  gay 
After  midnight  the  last  of  May, 
For  firing  gun  in  the  area. 


#;i 


&f 


^ste 


!_-  'nf  gnur  rnmpnnn  I&    ., 
FWning  faring  %  rarHm|mrnt. 

■FRED.  D.GRANT  JAMES  R  WASSON  J.  BURKE  HICKEY 

ANDREW  H.RUSSELL  THOS  S  MUMFORO  T  M  WOODRUFF 

WALTER  S.WYATT.  REIDT  STEWART  CORBIN  DAVENPORT 

EDWARD  WCAStY  QUINCV  0  CILLMORE  LOUIS  A  CRAIG 

HtNRY  C.  LA  POINT  WILLIAM  T  R0S5ELL  WILLIAM  H.  COFFIN. 


^SiF? 


147 


THE  YEARLING.  149 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  YEARLING. 

WHEN  we  marched  into  camp  again  at  the 
old  site,  which  was  this  year  named 
"Camp  Geo.  H.  Thomas,"  the  yearlings* 
were  perfectly  happy.  We  enjoyed  the  society 
of  the  plebes  for  awhile,  but  soon  tired  of 
that.  We  had  been  under  such  a  strain  dur- 
ing the  previous  year  that  we  needed  a  rest, 
and  we  had  it,  too,  as  there  was  not  much  re- 
quired of  us  for  the  first  month.  W^e  seemed  to 
need  sleep,  and  we  slept  in  the  morning,  again  in 
the  afternoon  and  all  night,  too.  After  we  were 
rested  we  loitered  under  the  trees  near  the  guard 
tents  during  guard-mounts  and  band  practice  and 
mingled  among  the  numerous  summer  visitors  at 
the  Point;  to  get  acquainted  was  not  difficult,  as 
some  of  the  visitors  had  relaltives  or  friends  in  the 
corps,  and,  moreover,  people  get  acquainted  easier 
at  a  resort  or  a  dance  than  almost  anywhere  else. 
Some  of  the  yearlings  never  missed  a  hop,  and 
there  were  three  of  them  a  week,  from  8  to  11  p.  m. 
Others  of  us  who  were  not  proficient  in  the  art  took 
dancing  lessons  occasionally,  but  generally  found 
our  pleasure  in  boating  and  in  being  with  the 


150  CADET  LIPE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

ladies,  or  with  one  another,  listening  to  the  music ; 
in  promenading  on  "Flirtation  Walk,"  or  calling 
at  the  hotel.  We  idled  away  the  whole  summer, 
and  it  did  us  good,  for,  when  we  returned  to  bar- 
racks, we  were  ready  for  study  again.  I  don't 
want  to  be  understood  that  we  had  nothing  to  do 
during  camp,  because  many  hours  were  spent  at 
drill,  at  inspections  and  on  guard,  just  enough  to 
keep  us  active  and  healthy. 

On  pleasant  days  when  not  on  duty  we  often 
•strolled  on  "Flirtation  Walk,^  that  beautiful  path 
winding  through  the  trees  and  rocks  between  the 
camp  site  and  the  river  to  watch  passing  steamers 
or  to  see  the  objects  of  interest  along  this  walk. 
There  are  some  links  of  a  huge  chain  on  "Trophy 
Point"  between  Professor's  Row  and  the  hotel 
that  was  floated  on  logs  across  the  Hudson  during 
the  Revolutionary  War  from  Gee's  Point  at  the  big 
bend  of  the  river  to  Constitution  Island  near  the 
village  of  Cold  Springs  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hud- 
son. We  used  to  examine  the  place  near  the  light- 
house on  Gee's  Point,  where  one  end  of  this  chain 
was  fastened  and  wonder  what  effect  such  an  ob- 
struction would  be  to  the  gunboats  of  to-day.  At 
other  times  we  would  linger  about  Kosciuszco's 
Monument,  a  little  south  of  Gee's  Point,  and 
quench  our  thirst  at  the  same  spring  that  this 
noble  Pole  drank  from  more  than  a  century  ago 
when  he  built  Fort  Clinton — that  is,  nearby  on  the 
plain — while  at  the  same  time  General  Putnam 
constructed  the  numerous  other  fortifications  on 


THE   YEARLING.  151 

the  neighboring  hills.  Then  we  would  visit  Bat- 
tery Knox,  near  Kosciuszco's  garden,  to  see  the 
beautiful  view  down  the  Hudson  that  this  work 
commands,  or  go  to  see  still  another  handsome  • 
view  up  the  Hudson  from  Trophy  Point  or  Siege 
Battery  at  the  north,  or  rather  the  west  end  of 
Flirtation  Walk.  Battery  Knox,  and  Seacoast, 
Siege  and  Mortar  batteries  are  of  comparative 
recent  origin  and  were  built  by  the  cadets.  There 
are  many  monuments,  aside  from  those  in  the  lit- 
tle cemetery,  that  have  been  erected  at  salient 
points  about  the  grounds  to  heroes  who  freely  sac- 
rificed their  lives  in  the  cause  of  freedom.  Some 
of  those  brave  men  shed  their  blood  to  give  birth 
to  our  republic,  others  to  wrest  territory  from  the 
Indians  or  from  Mexico,  and  still  others  that  our 
Union  might  live.  Then  there  are  cannon  and 
other  relics  of  war  on  Trophy  Point  and  in  the 
"museum"  that  are  silent  teachers  for  all  who  see 
them.  The  very  air  about  this  historic  spot 
teaches  love  of  country,  and  the  cadets  absorb 
much  valuable  information  that  is  not  taught  in 
the  section  room. 

Cadets  who  were  popular  with  the  ladies  often 
used  to  pin  the  "spooney  buttons"  on  their  coats, 
and  when  a  cadet  gave  his  spooney  button  to  a 
young  lady  this  act  was  equivalent  to  saying  that 
she  was  the  favored  one. 

"The  ladies—may  Heaven  bless  their  faces! 
They  come  here  in  summer  sweet, 
Each   being  loaded   with  graces, 
And  all  have  cadets  at  their  feet." 


152  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Lieutenant  K g  was  a  popular  tactical  offi- 
cer and  quite  a  ladies'  man.  He  liked  music,  and 
at  band  practice  he  often  requested  the  leader  to 
play  "Shoo  Fly,"  and  so  often  that  the  cadets  no- 
ticed it,  and  called  him  "Shoo  Fly,"  not  to  his  face, 

of  course,  but  among  ourselves.     Clara  G e,  a 

little  six-year-old  girl,  was  a  frequent  visitor  at 
camp,  and  she  was  a  great  admirer  of  Oiidet 

W e.     One  day  he  was  officer  of  the  guard  and 

I  was  corporal  of  the  guard.  During  dress  parade 
my  post  was  near  the  first  guard  tent  facing  the 
battalion,  and  it  was  my  duty  to  see  that  visitors 
kept  back  of  a  certain  line.    Little  Oara  was  out 

to  see  the  dress  parade,  and,  as  Cadet  W e  was 

at  the  guard  tents,  she  was  near  him.     W e 

called  me,  and  then  told  little  Clara  just  when  and 
where  to  go  and  what  to  say.  There  were  many 
visitors  present  that  evening.     I  took  my  post,  and 

in  a  few  minutes  Lieutenant  K g  stepped  a 

dozen  or  so  yards  in  front  of  me  and  of  the  line  of 
visitors  preparatory  to  taking  post  as  officer  in 
charge  of  the  parade.  Just  then  little  Clara  ran 
out  in  front  of  the  visitors'  line,  and  in  a  loud  voice 

called:      "Lieutenant    K g!    Oh,    Lieutenant 

K g!"  which,  of  course,  attracted  everybody's 

attention,  and  then  she  said,  "What  do  they  all 
call  you  'Shoo  Fly'  for?" 

One  day  four  young  ladies  came  to  camp,  and 
four  of  us  yearlings  met  them  under  the  trees  at 
the  guard  tents.  The  ladies  wanted  us  to  take 
them  out  boating,  and  as  they  knew  cadets  had  no 


INSPECTION    IN    CAMP. 


LIGHT    ARTILLERY    DRILL. 


THE    YEARLING.  155 

way  of  providing  refreshments,  tliey  themselves 
had  brought  baskets  of  cake  and  fruit.  Knowing 
that  our  quartette  could  be  absent  from  camp  for 
several  hours  we  picked  up  the  baskets  and 
started.  Attached  to  our  boathouse  there  was  an 
inclined  and  also  a  floating  dock,  all  fastened  to- 
gether, so  that  the  two  docks  would  rise  and  fall 
with  the  water  in  the  river.  The  floating  dock  had 
been  covered  with  water  so  often  that  it  was  quite 
slipper}^,  and  we  cautioned  the  young  ladies  about 
it.  While  we  were  carrying  our  boat  from  its 
place  in  the  boathouse  one  of  the  young  ladies  ran 
down  the  inclined  dock,  and  the  moment  she 
stepped  upon  the  floating  dock  she  slipped  and  sat 
down  in  a  half  inch  of  water.  Her  sister  (for  there 
were  two  sisters  in  the  party)  ran  to  her  rescue, 
and  she,  too,  sat  down  in  the  water.  We  knew 
nothing  of  the  mishaps  until  the  sisters  were  just 
getting  upon  their  feet;  then  we  suggested  another 
day  for  the  trip,  but  they  said  no,  as  everything 
was  ready  now  we  must  go.  All  got  in  the  boat 
and  off  we  went.  We  rowed  across  the  river  un- 
der the  bridge  and  landed  (off  limits)  in  the  woods 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson.  The  ladies  said 
that  they  would  prepare  lunch,  so  the  yearlings 
left  them  to  themselves  for  a  while.  Upon  our  re- 
turn a  dainty  lunch  was  spread  upon  the  grass, 
and  we  all  fell  to  with  a  relish,  and  then  started 
upon  our  return  to  the  camp.  We  observed  that 
the  ladies  insisted  upon  carrying  the  baskets  and 
to  hold  on  to  them  while  in  the  boat;  this,  of 


156  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

course,  excited  our  suspicions,  and  we  found  out 
that  the  baskets  contained  the  sisters'  laundry. 

It  was  the  rule  for  a  corporal  to  march  the  sick 
of  his  company  to  the  hospital  at  sick-call  at  6 :30 
a.  m.,  and  as  there  were  not  many  sick  the  custom 
sprang  up  in  the  corps  for  one  corporal  to  take  the 
sick-report  books  of  all  four  companies  to  the  hos- 
pital when  there  were  no  sick.  So  one  morning 
near  the  close  of  Yearling  Camp,  when  there  were 
no  sick  in  my  company  to  go  to  the  hospital,  a  cor- 
poral of  another  company  took  my  sick-report 
book,  and  as  luck  would  have  it  I  was  reported  for 
"Neglect  of  duty,  not  taking  sick-report  book  to 
the  hospital,"  and  for  this  I  was  reduced  to  ranks, 
but  soon  afterwards  I  was  appointed  a  "marker" 
for  battalion  drill,  a  very  pleasant  duty.  The 
summer  soon  passed,  the  furlough  class  returned, 
we  struck  tents  and  our  yearling  camp  was  over. 

Back  to  barracks  we  went,  donned  our  gray 
pants,  drew  text  books,*  posted  our  hours  of  reci- 
tation and  began  the  school  work  for  another  year. 

Cavalry  drill  is  a  part  of  the  course  in  each  of 
the  last  three  years,  and  the  yearlings  always 
hailed  the  day  when  they  could  begin  cavalry  drill, 
and  at  last  the  time  came  for  us.  The  class  was 
divided  into  two  platoons,  and  a  platoon  at  a  time 
sent  to  the  Riding  Hall.  When  my  platoon 
marched  into  the  hall  we  were  all  disappointed, 
for,  instead  of  finding  our  horses  ready  saddled, 


*See  appendix. 


THE  YEARLING.  157 

they  were  not  saddled  at  all.  We  were  marched 
in  front  of  the  line  of  horses,  which  were  being 
held  by  cavalry  soldiers,  the  yearling  on  the  right 
of  the  line  was  instructed  to  take  the  first  horse, 
the  next  yearling  to  take  the  next  horse,  and  so  on 
to  the  left.  The  horses  were  bridled  and  had 
blankets  on  them,  held  in  place  by  surcingles. 

Captain  B s  explained  to  us  how  to  mount,  and 

then  ordered  us  to  mount.  Some  of  us  had  no 
trouble  in  mounting,  but  it  was  very  amusing  to 
see  others  who  had  never  been  on  a  horse;  it  took 
them  a  long  time  to  get  on,  notwithstanding  the 
drill  we  had  had  in  the  gymnasium.  It  was  found 
that  a  real  horse  was  different  from  a  wooden 
horse.  After  all  were  mounted  the  position  of  the 
soldier,  mounted,  was  explained  to  us,  and  our 
faults  corrected.  We  were  then  dismounted,  then 
mounted  again.  So  much  time  was  taken  up  in 
explaining  details  and  in  mounting  and  dismount- 
ing and  correcting  errors  that  the  whole  hour 
passed  in  that  way.  The  next  day  we  did  get  to 
ride,  but  for  only  a  few  minutes,  and  at  a  walk 
then.  As  the  days  came  we  rode  longer  each 
time,  but  always  at  a  walk  for  weeks.  Then  came 
the  slow  trot,  and  it  was  fun  to  see  some  of  the 
yearlings  fall  off,  but  as  we  had  been  so  well 
drilled  in  mounting  they  were  soon  on  again. 
That  first  day  at  the  slow  trot  we  all  got  very  sore. 
Many  of  the  horses  were  hard  trotters,  and  many 
a  yearling  had  chafed  legs.  I  remember  seeing 
several  of  my  class  who  suffered  a  great  deal,  so 


158  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

much  that  for  a  time  the  blood  ran  down  on  their 
shoes.  We  were  taught  to  saddle  and  unsaddle, 
to  fold  the  saddle  blanket,  to  bridle  and  unbridle, 
to  ride  with  saddles,  first  at  a  walk,  then  a  trot 
and  then  at  a  gallop.  We  were  then  taught  to 
ride  with  a  sabre  and  then  given  sabre  exercises, 
and  then  the  use  of  the  pistol,  then  without  saddles 
to  mount  and  dismount,  first  at  a  walk,  then  at  a 
trot,  then  at  a  gallop  and  then  at  the  full  speed  of 
the  horse;  then  to  jump  hurdles,  then  to  jump  a 
hurdle,  dismount,  mount  and  jump  another  hur- 
dle, the  horse  going  at  full  speed ;  then  to  use  the 
sabre,  cutting  at  leather  balls,  called  heads,  one  on 
a  post,  one  on  the  ground  and  another  on  a  post; 
then  to  jump  a  hurdle  and  with  the  sabre  to  catch 
a  ring  at  the  same  time  from  a  string  suspended 
near  the  hurdle,  then  to  cut  a  head  on  the  ground, 
then  one  on  a  post  and  then  to  jump  another  hur- 
dle, catch  another  ring  and  take  another  head. 
We  were  also  taught  the  various  platoon  move- 
ments, and  occasionally  on  pleasant  days  we  were 
taken  out  for  long  rides  into  the  country. 

Visitors  at  the  Point  often  wanted  to  see  how 
the  cadets  lived,  and  when  they  went  about  it 
right,  i.  e.,  made  the  acquaintance  of  certain  tacti- 
cal officers,  their  requests  were  sometimes  granted. 

Lieutenant  K g  came  to  my  room  one  morning 

after  he  had  made  his  regular  inspection  and  said 
that  he  had  wanted  to  bring  some  visiting  ladies 
and  gentlemen  over  to  see  my  room,  but  from  the 
looks  of  things  he  thoujxht  it  inadvisable.     I  re- 


THE   YEARLING.  159 

plied  that  all  would  be  in  order  in  a  few  minutes, 
and  when  ready  I'd  go  to  the  hall  door,  where  he 
could  see  me.    To  this  he  assented.     My  room  at 

that  particular  time  was  in  bad  order.    O'C r 

and  I  had  our  guns  apart  and  cleaning  materials 
and  rags  scattered  about  the  floor,  and  worse,  two 
of  our  classmates  who  lived  across  the  hall  from  us 
brought  their  chairs  to  our  room,  and  we  four  were 

playing  whist,  but  Lieutenant  K g  was  good 

enough  not  to  notice  our  visitors  or  cards,  and 
he  did  not  report  us.  In  a  few  minutes 
all  was  in  order,  and  I  went  to  the  hall 
door  as  a  signal.  In  a  few  minutes  more  Lieu- 
tenant K g  arrived  with  the  visitors;  they 

wanted  to  see  our  guns,  but  fearing  criticism  he 

made  an  excuse  that  they  were  all  alike.  O'C r 

and  I  at  once  got  our  rifles  and  the  Lieutenant  was 
amazed  to  see  them  in  fine  condition.  Afterwards 
he  told  us  that  he  did  not  know  how  we  put  things 
in  shape  on  such  a  short  time. 

One  pleasant  Saturday  afternoon  a  party  of 
young  ladies  arrived  with  baskets  of  refreshments 
to  meet  a  party  of  yearlings  for  a  trip  to  "Cro' 
Nest."  As  I  was  the  only  one  of  the  yearlings  not 
"on  punishment"  or  "in  confinement"  I  met  the 
young  ladies,  explained  the  situation  and  said  that 
the  trip  would  have  to  be  postponed.  They  replied 
that  as  two  of  the  young  ladies  were  to  leave  for 
New  York  on  Monday  next  they  were  determined 
to  go  to  Cro'  Nest  at  once,  and  that  if  I  would  not 
go  that  the  ladies  would  go  alone.     Seeing  that 


160  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

they  were  determined  to  go  I  went  with  them.  We 
climbed  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  and  had  a  good 
view,  as  Cro'  Nest  is  near  the  top  of  the  highest 
peak  around.  The  mountain  is  covered  with  tim- 
ber, and  after  leaving  the  top  it  was  hard  to  tell 
just  where  we  would  find  our  way  down.  Unfor- 
tunately, we  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain  at  a 
point  on  the  Hudson  where  the  bank  was  about 
vertical,  and  so  high  that  we  had  to  climb  more 
than  half  way  up  again  to  get  down  on  the  other 
side  of  that  ridge.  This  consumed  so  much  time 
that  when  we  reached  the  Dutchwoman's  it  was 
after  10  o'clock  at  night.  Alfred,  the  Dutch- 
woman's son,  was  there,  and  we  sent  him  for 

Lieutenant  K g  to  take  the  young  ladies  to 

Cold  Springs,  where  some  of  them  lived  and  the 
others  were  visiting.  Cold  Springs  was  off  cadet 
limits,  hence  I  could  not  risk  going  there,  when  I 
knew  I  had  been  reported  absent  from  dress  pa- 
rade and  from  quarters,  so  I  bade  the  young  ladies 
adieu  and  reported  with  as  little  delay  as  possible 
to  the  cadet  officer  of  the  day,  who  had  made 
search  for  me  and  was  about  to  send  a  detail  to 
hunt  for  me.  Immediately  after  breakfast  the 
next  morning  I  went  to  the  Dutchwoman's,  saw 
Alfred  and  learned  that  he  had  found  Lieutenant 

K g  in  ample  time  to  catch  the  last  ferryboat 

at  11  p.  m.,  but  that  the  Lieutenant  waited  to  fin- 
ish a  game  of  billiards  he  was  playing  at  the  offi- 
cers' mess,  and  he  arrived  with  the  ladies  at  the 
North  Landing  just  in  time  to  see  the  last  ferry- 


GYMNASIUM. 


LIBRARY. 


^^ROGRAMME 


OF  THE 


Entertainment  Given  by  the 
U.  S.  Corps  of  Cadets, 


NEW  YEAR'S  EVE.,  18.... 
WEST  POINT. 


163 


164  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


Overture   Orchestra 

PART  I. 

Handy  Andy. 

(Ye  Gladsome  Farce.) 

Handy  Andy Cadet  Shortelle 

Squire  Egan Cadet  A.  E.  Wood 

Dick  Dawson Cadet  Rogers 

Mr.  Murphy Cadet  Casey 

Squire  O'Grady Cadet  Goddard 

Mr.  Furlong Cadet  Mumford 

Edward  O'Conner Cadet  Hickey 

Simon Cadet  Guard 

First  Ruffian  Cadet  "Doyle" 

Second  Ruffian  Cadet  "McGinnis" 

Oonah  Rooney  Cadet  Birney 

Mad  Nance Cadet  Townsend 

Fanny  Dawson  Cadet  Rowell 

Peasants,  Strangers,  Citizens,  Etc.,  by  the  Company. 
Music   Orchestra 


THE  YEARLING.  165 


PART    II. 

Ye  Sottl-Stirritig  Tragedy  of  Macbeth. 

Macbeth— Ye  vengeful  slayer  of  his  King;  who  is  linawed  by 

grim  remorse. 
Macduff — Ye  valiant  general;  ye  loyal  nobleman. 
Duncan — King  of  Scotland. 

Lady  Macbeth — Who  nightly  walketh  in  her  sleep. 
Seyton — Ye  officer  of  Horse  Marines,  attendant  upon  Macbeth. 
Guitar  Duet Cadets  Evans  and  Harrington 


"Camille." 

A  Tragedy. 

Camille  Cadet  Casey 

(Tries  to  wheeden  it.) 

Armand  Duvall Cadet  Goddard 

(The  histrionic  vender  of  peanuts.) 

Music   , , . , Orchestra 


166  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


PART  III. 

Dion   Bourcicault's   "Speelshakes"   Unparalleled   Combination 
Overstrung  Electro-Plated  Tragedy  of 

Les  Immortelles  de  la  Classe  Voti-Bottaute. 

As  exhibited  on  the  European  plan  by  the  world-renowned 
Pere  Hyacinthe  Troupe  at  Covent  Garden,  New  Jersey,  for  over 
one  consecutive  night,  during  the  rainy  season,  to  an  over- 
flowing house,  and  afterwards  successfully  brought  out  by  the 
Sheriff  and  Posse  Troupe  at  the  Tombs,  New  York,  to  a  well- 
secured  audience, 

CHARACTERS. 

(Don't  cut  this  part  off.) 

Cadet  Shrimp,  Plan  and  Section  Marcher. 

Cadet  McDoyle  Vesskoldt 

Cadet  Ginness  Narywacks  U  C 

Cadet  Bewkellit  Wheet,  N.  R. 

Cadet  Cutit  Tanbark 

Cadet  Merritt,  D. 

Recites  at  No.  1.5  Cockloft,  Cavalry  Stables,  or  in  the  area  of 
Barracks  on  Saturday,  alternating  daily  as  the  Professor  may 
feel  like  it,  with  Courts-Martial  from  2  P.  M.  until  Police  In- 
spection, 

Music  Orchestra 


THE   YEARLING.  .    167 


PART  IV. 

Minstrels,  by  the  Cadet  Baud. 

1. 

Overture  (Emani) Cadet  Band 

Beautiful  Bells Solo  and  Chorus 

Polka  (La  tarde  del  Sabado) Cadet  Band 

Kaiser,  Don't  You  Want  to  Buy  a  Dog? Company 

Riding  Hall  Galop Cadet  Band 

Mary  Aileen Solo  and  Chorus 

Music   Orchestra 

2. 

Maltese  Boat  Song  Quartette 

Galop  (Dgagdfnp)  Cadet  Band 

Now  I  Lay  Me  Down  to  Sleep Solo  and  Chorus 

Flirtation  Waltz Cadet  Band 

Die  Wacht  am  Rhein Company 

Jim  Jam  Chorus  Company 


168    .  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


ARTICLES  OF  WAR. 

ARTICLE  L— The  managers  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  under- 
stood that  they  have  original  jurisdiction  over  all  cases  of 
loud  and  unseemly  noise,  shouting  and  crying  out  "Supe," 
"Boots,"  "Carry  him  out"  and  the  like;  and  appellate  jurisdic- 
tion over  all  violations  of  these  Articles  of  Confederation,  in- 
cluding the  use  of  peanuts,  taffy,  pop-corn  or  other  raging 
strong  drink, 

ART.  II. — In  case  of  fire,  to  prevent  unnecessary  disturb- 
ance, the  audience  will  be  formed  in  two  ranks  endwise,  the 
right  wing  resting  on  the  Chapel  steps,  the  left  on  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  bayonets  fixed  and  trimmings  to  be  worn 
on  the  outside  of  the  mess  hall.  Should  the  danger  be  immi- 
nent a  small  detail,  made  by  the  Superintendent  on  recom- 
mendation of  the  academic  board,  will  be  allowed  to  visit  the 
trunk  rooms  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  their  white  pants. 

AMENDMENT  XIV.— Should  any  one  of  the  audience  feel 
hungry  during  the  performance  he  will  make  out  a  statement 
of  the  fact,  showing  the  color  of  his  eyes  and  hair,  when  and 
where  he  was  born,  when  and  where  enlisted,  how  long  since 
he  ate  anything,  and  why  he  did  not  then  eat  enough  to  last. 
He  will  submit  it  to  the  Commandant  of  Cadets,  who  will,  if 
convenient,  forward  it  to  the  Superintendent.  He  will  for- 
ward it  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  will  refer  it  to  the  Third 
Auditor  of  the  Treasury  to  ascertain  how  much  of  the  neces- 
sary appropriation  remains  unexpended.  It  will  then  be  ex- 
posed to  Brand's  sulphate  of  soda  test  to  ascertain  the  effect 
of  frost,  after  which  it  will  be  covered  with  several  layers  of 
beton,  well  rammed.  At  the  end  of  ten  hundred  years,  if  it 
still  yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  finger  and  remains  soluble 
in  hot  rum  toddy,  the  application  will  be  disapproved.  The 
applicant  will  meanwhile  receive  napkins,  cane-bottomed 
chairs  and  plated  castors  to  whet  his  appetite. 

PREAMBLE. — Should  any  member  of  the  academic  staff  be 
so  overcome  by  the  refining  nature  of  the  performance  as  to 
feel  a  desire  to  sign  the  temperance  pledge,  he  will  find  one  in 
,the  cupboard  of  a  little  room  in  rear  of  the  dining  room  of  the 
Qfflcers'  mess, 


THE   YEARLING.  169 

boat  beyond  call.  The  party  then  went  to  the 
Engineer  Barracks,  a  half  mile  or  more  distant, 

got  a  large  engineer  boat,  and  Lieutenant  K g 

himself  rowed  the  young  ladies  across  the  Hudson 
to  Cold  Springs,  and  did  not  return  until  after 
reveille  the  following  Sunday  morning.  I  has- 
tened back  to  my  quarters  and  worked  hard  on  my 
gun  in  preparing  my  room  for  inspection  (for  I  was 
room  orderly  that  week),  for  I  felt  that  the  Lieu- 
tenant would  be  especially  careful  with  me  at  in- 
spection, and  so  he  was,  but  he  could  find  nothing 
to  report  me  for.  After  inspecting  my  room  he 
said,  "Mr.  R d,  you  had  quite  an  adventure  yes- 
terday?" I  replied,  "Yes,  sir."  He  then  asked; 
"Did  the  young  ladies  get  home  safely?"  and  I  an- 
swered, "You  ought  to  know  more  about  that  than 
I  do,  sir."  He  left  the  room,  banged  the  door  and 
accepted  my  explanation  for  my  absence  the  day 
before. 

Before  we  could  realize  it  Thanksgiving  came 
and  went,  Christmas  and  the  boxes  of  sweetmeats 
arrived,  and  as  no  Christmas  leaves  were  granted 
this  year  we  took  a  greater  interest  .than  usual  in 
an  entertainment  that  came  off  in  the  Mess  Hall 
on  New  Year's  Eve. 

The  January  examinations  came  again,  and  as  is 
always  the  case  there  were  many  failures,  among 
them  being  my  tall  young  friend  from  Tennessee. 
After  changing  our  hours  of  recitation  the  steady 
grind  went  on  as  usual. 

About  1  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  5th  of 


170  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

February  "long  roll"  sounded,  and,  of  course,  this 
meant  for  everj^body  to  turn  out  promptly.  In  a 
few  minutes  after  the  call  sounded  the  cadet  com- 
panies formed  in  the  area,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
more  those  in  the  fire  department  had  our  little 
hand  engine  out  and  at  work,  for  the  cadet  bar- 
racks were  on  fire.     Tony  R r  held  the  nozzle 

and  directed  the  stream  on  the  roof  of  the  "Fourth 
Division,"  where  the  flames  were  the  thickest.  The 
bucket  brigade  was  also  soon  at  work.  Some  of 
the  plebes  in  the  cock-loft  of  the  Fourth  Division 
did  not  awake  until  after  their  rooms  were  filled 
with  smoke,  and  when  roll  was  called  they  were 
discovered  absent,  and  we  formed  lines  taking 
hold  of  hands  and  went  into  their  rooms  that  were 
filled  with  smoke  and  brought  them  out.  We 
worked  until  after  daylight  the  next  morning.  En- 
gineer and  cavalry  soldiers  soon  arrived  to  help 
us,  but  much  damage  was  done  before  the  fire  was 
put  out.  Most  of  the  roof  was  destroyed  and 
great  damage  done  to  the  "Dialectic  Society  Room" 
over  the  Sally  Port  and  to  the  cock-loft  rooms  of 
the  Fourth  Division.  No  one  was  injured,  but 
some  of  the  cadets  lost  everything  except  their 
nightclothes,  which  they  had  escaped  in.  The  un- 
fortunate ones  found  accommodations  by  doubling 
up  with  their  classmates.  Recitations  begun  at 
8  a.  m.  that  day  as  though  nothing  had  happened, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  the  damage  to  the  building 
was  repaired,  and  a  little  later  Congress,  which 
was  then  in  session,  made  good  all  losses. 


THE   YEARLING.  -   Itl 

When  a  cadet  expected  to  "cut  a  meal,"  that  is, 
not  go  to  the  Mess  Hall  for  it,  or  when  he  wanted  a 
lunch  between  meals,  he  would  butter  a  break- 
fast roll  or  two  pieces  of  bread,  fold  the  lunch  in 
his  handkerchief  and  put  it  in  the  breast  of  his 
coat,  and  then  throw  his  shoulders  forward  to  hide 
it,  so  as  not  to  be  reported  for  carrying  food  from 
the  Mess  Hall.  In  winter  I  often  carried  a  roll  to 
my  room  and  put  it  on  the  steam  coil  under  the 
marble  slab.  The  heat  melted  the  butter  and 
made  a  luscious  evening  lunch.  Whenever  a  ca- 
det had  not  provided  a  lunch  for  himself  and  he 
wished  to  attend  a  "fight"  at  Fort  Clinton  a  class- 
mate would  bring  him  something  from  the  Mess 
Hall. 

Once  in  a  while  some  of  the  cadets  would  try 
their  hands  at  cooking;  they  would  get  such  arti- 
cles of  food  from  the  Mess  Hall  as  they  could  con- 
ceal about  their  clothes  and  other  articles  from 
the  Dutch  Woman's,  and  after  taps  put  a  blanket 
up  to  cover  the  window,  attach  one  end  of  a  rub- 
ber tube  to  the  gas  jet  and  the  other  to  a  burner 
under  a  pot  or  pan,  using  candles  for  light.  About 
the  time  the  dainty  dish,  called  "hash,"  was  ready 
the  invited  guests  would  arrive,  and  then  such  a 
feast.  Once  in  a  while  an  unexpected  visitor  in 
the  form  of  a  tactical  officer  would  happen 
around,  and  then  such  scampering;  the  unlucky 
ones  always  paying  dearly  for  the  fun  by  walking 
"extras"  on  Saturday  afternoons.  There  were  two 
of  my  classmates  who  lived  together,  and  one  of 


172  .  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

them  was  a  famous  cook,  but  they  were  both 
"found"  in  January,  and  the  one  who  was  not  the 
cook  told  me  that  he  himself  would  not  have  been 
found  had  he  not  had  a  cook  for  a  roommate. 

The  paraphrase,  by  T n  of  the  class  of  18^, 

gives  a  good  account  of  "a  cadet  hash"  and  the  re- 
sults following  it: 

A  CADET  HASH— (With  Apologies  to  "The  Raven.") 

Once  upon  a  morning  dreary, 
Whilst  I  pondered  sad  and  weary, 
Over  the  remains  of  cooking 
And  the  grease  upon  the  floor, 
Suddenly  there  came  a  tapping, 
As  of  Kent  or  Piper  rapping, 
Rapping  at  my  chamber  door; 
Only  this  and  nothing  more.  ' 

What  I  said  I  will  not  mention 
When  I  heard  the  "stand  attention" 
Coming  from  my  chamber  door. 
Up  I  jumped  nor  word  did  utter, 
As  with  many  a  snuff  and  splutter, 
Came  the  giant  form  of  Henry 
Gazing  at  my  greasy  floor; 
Only  this  and  nothing  more. 

And  behind  him  came  a  creature, 
Human  as  to  form  and  feature. 
Whom  I  recognized  as  Jakey, 
Gazing,  too,  upon  my  floor. 
When  I  heard  this  creature  vicious 
Putting  on  a  smile  malicious, 
Mutter,  "You've  been  having  cooking. 
That  is  what  has  greased  your  floor." 
Only  this  and  nothing  more. 


THE  YEARLING.  173 

"Yes,"  said  Henry,  "I  can  smell  it, 
'Tis  so  plain  that  one  can  tell  it. 
Tell  the  odor  of  the  cooking, 
And  the  grease  upon  the  floor." 
Thus  his  spirit  burned  within  him, 
And  he  said  to  Jacob,  "Skin  him, 
Skin  him  for  the  smell  of  cooking 
And  for  grease  upon  the  floor." 
"Yes,"  said  Jakey,  and  something  more. 

Then  he  said,  with  look  aggressive. 
And  with  twist  of  head  expressive, 
"Put  him  on  as  orderly. 
Orderly  for  one  week  more!" 
"Yes,"  said  Jacob,  "I  will  do  it; 
This  young  man  shall  surely  rue  it. 
Rue  the  night  that  he  had  cooking. 
Rue  the  time  he  greased  his  floor. 
He  shall  serve  for  one  week  more." 

Then  they  left  me  in  my  sadness, 

Musing  o'er  the  deed  of  madness. 

Thinking  of  the  smell  of  cooking 

And  of  grease  upon  my  floor. 

All  that  night  was  turned  to  mourning, 

Visions  stern  of  "extras"  dawning. 

On  my  tearful,  blinded  vision. 

Caused  me  pain  evermore. 

This  is  all — there's  nothing  more. 

Among  the  plebes  reporting  last  June  there  was 
a  colored  youth,  and  he  was  the  first  colored  ap- 
pointee. He  passed  the  preliminary  examinations 
and  was  duly  admitted.  Without  any  concert  of 
action  we  each  and  every  one  let  the  colored  plebe 
alone.  We  never  spoke  to  him  except  officially. 
He  had  a  tent  or  a  room  all  by  himself,  and  he 
never  had  cause  to  complain  of  being  deviled. 


174  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

However,  one  day  he  did  complain,  and  said  he 
had  been  tied  and  had  had  his  ears  cut ;  a  great  cry 
was  raised  against  the  hazing  at  West  Point.  The 
case  was  investigated,  but  he  had  no  charges  to 
make  against  any  particular  person,  and  as  his 
injuries  were  of  a  certain  kind  the  cadets  were  of 
the  opinion  that  he  had  inflicted  them  upon  him- 
self. The  army  surgeons  gave  it  as  their  opinion 
that  any  one  could  tie  and  injure  himself  as  this 
colored  youth  had  been  tied  and  injured.  This  lad 
was  neither  black  nor  was  he  a  mulatto;  his  face 
and  hands  were  light,  with  dark  spots  on  them, 
and  these  spots  were  darker  on  some  occasions 
than  others,  which  caused  us  to  watch  him  closely. 
We  discovered  that  just  before  a  rain  the  spots  in 
his  cheeks  were  darker  than  at  any  other  time,  so 
we  spoke  of  him  as  the  "Walking  Barometer."  Like 
many  a  better  man,  he  w^as  found  deficient  in  a 
year  or  two  and  discharged.  Had  he  been  a  white 
man  I  do  not  believe  that  he  would  ever  have  been 
admitted  to  West  Point,  because,  as  cadets,  we 
thought  him  very  dull  and  stupid. 

There  were  some  young  ladies  living  at  Cold 
Springs,  who  often  visited  the  Point,  and  they  re- 
peatedly invited  certain  of  the  cadets  to  call  on 
them  some  evening  after  "Taps."  Upon  promise 
of  a  good  supper  and  music  some  of  us  agreed  to 
"run  it"  over  there  on  the  next  Saturday  night, 
provided,  of  course,  that  the  tactical  officers  made 
their  night  inspections  in  time  for  us  to  catch  the 
last  ferryboat  at  11  p.  m.     It  so  happened  that  the 


THE   YEARLING.  175 

tactical  officers  all  made  early  inspections  on  a 
particular  Saturday  night,  and  soon  after  they  had 
gone  we  went  to  the  rooms  of  certain  candidates, 
who  had  not  gotten  their  uniforms  and  whose 
suits  of  civilian  clothes  we  decided  to  wear,  unbe- 
known to  them,  of  course.  We  found  them  asleep, 
took  off  our  cadet  gray  and  donned  the  candidates' 
citizen  clothes.  By  "hustling"  we  were  just  in 
time  for  the  ferry,  but  as  we  were  going  down  hill 
past  the  Seacoast  Battery  we  met  Professor 
C h  and  some  other  officers,  who  had  just  ar- 
rived on  the  ferry,  and  as  luck  went  L n,  from 

force  of  habit,  saluted  the  officers.  Our  courage 
almost  failed  us  then,  but  on  we  went.  After 
reaching  the  boat  landing  we  hesitated  about 
crossing  the  Hudson  for  fear  that,  after  having 
been  seen,  another  inspection  of  quarters  would  be 
made  that  night,  and  if  it  were  made  we  were  sure 
of  being  reported  absent,  and  this  meant,  as  we 
could  not  make  explanation  that  we  were  on  cadet 
limits  at  the  time,  that  we  would  have  to  stand 
"trial  by  court-martial,"  and  if  any  witnesses  were 
found  to  prove  us  off  limits  we  were  certain  to  be 
dismissed.  N^otwithstanding  all  this,  we  went,  and 
reached  the  house  where  all  the  young  ladies  had 
agreed  to  be  at  about  midnight.  We  were  not  ex- 
pected, but  the  young  ladies  were  up  and  said  that 
they  did  not  dream  of  our  taking  the  chances  we 
did  of  being  dismissed.  As  we  were  not  expected, 
there  was  no  supper  for  us.  One  of  the  ladies 
played  the  piano  for  a  little  while,  and  then  quit 


176  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

because  it  was  Sunday  morning.  Seeing  that  our 
trip  was  a  disappointment  we  left  tlie  house  and 
started  on  our  return  to  barracks.  The  boatman 
was  not  where  he  told  us  to  call  for  him,  and  we 
did  not  find  him  till  about  4  a,  m.  In  the  mean- 
time we  became  thoroughly  chilled,  and  we  ran 
across  several  men  who  might  become  witnesses, 
thus  increasing  our  chances  of  being  caught. 
Again  it  was  fast  approaching  reveille,  we  would 
be  absent  from  roll  call,  and  what  would  the  can- 
didates whose  clothes  we  had  on  do?  Then  there 
were  our  clothes  with  our  names  in  them  in  the 
candidates'  rooms  to  be  used  as  evidence  against 
us.  Oh,  what  a  pleasant  time  we  had  that  night! 
At  last  we  landed  at  the  same  dock  that  I  had  first 
landed  at,  but  I  was  not  then  in  a  humor  to  ap- 
preciate the  scenery.  We  agreed  after  we 
changed  clothes  again  with  the  candidates  and  had 
gone  to  our  own  rooms  to  see  whether  or  not  we 
had  been  "hived  absent"  to  meet  at  the  sink.  It 
was  not  long  till  we  met  there  and  found  that  we 
had  not  been  caught  absent,  and  that  the  candi- 
dates never  knew  we  wore  their  clothes. 

We  now  began  to  talk  of  furlough,  and  as  the 
time  drew  near  we  became  the  more  anxious  to 
see  home  folks  again.  Tailors  visited  the  Point 
with  samples  of  summer  suitings,  and  the  Com- 
missary tailor  also  had  samples  to  show.  At  last 
each  yearling  ordered  the  clothes  he  wanted  to 
wear  when  he  went  on  furlough  as  a  swell  second 
classman,  and  when  the  citizen  suits  were  ready 


THE    YEARLING.  177 

those  who  ordered  at  the  Commissary  could  try 
them  on,  while  the  others  had  to  wait  for  theirs  un- 
til after  the  1st  of  June.  During  the  spring 
months  we  held  several  class  meetings  to  decide 
upon  a  furlough  cane,  and  at  last  we  agreed  upon 
one.  It  was  a  small  malaca  stick  with  an  L- 
shaped  ivory  head,  having  the  last  two  figures  of 
the  year  we  expected  to  graduate  in  cut  into  the 
free  end  of  the  L.  Our  folks  when  they  saw  us 
with  the  little  canes  called  us  dudes,  and  they 
were  about  right,  too,  but  that  was  many  years 
ago,  when  we  were  young  and  charming. 

A  FURLOUGH   DREAM.* 
Air: — Benny  Havens,  Oh! 

A  few  more  days  and  June  will  come, 

And  with  her  rosy  hand 
Will  open  wide  the  gate  that  leads 

Unto  the  promised  land. 
Where  dwells  the  "Cit"  in  happy  ease. 

Without  the  least  regard. 
While  he  doth  have  the  entire  earth 

Enclosed  in  his  front  yard. 

He  has  no  fear  of  any  "Tac"    . 

When  he  off  limits  strays, 
No  reveille  disturbs  his  ear. 

Oh,  joyful  are  his  days; 
He  has  no  fear  of  Mathy  probs, 

Or  French  to  masticate; 
No  Spanish  grip  with  outstretched  arms 

Awaits  to  seal  his  fate. 


*From  sonf  s  by  the  Class  of  1897, 


178  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

He  has  no  bony  nag  to  ride 

In  Grant's  or  Custer's  style, 
No  other  animals  to  fight 

That  wear  a  goaty  smile; 
And  as  the  summer  days  roll  by 

The  wily  hammock  holds 
This  happy,  lazy,  lounging  "Cit" 

Within    its  sleepy  folds. 

Oh,  haste  the  day  when  we  shall  share 

In  life's  sweet  joys  again; 
No  hearts  on  earth   will  lighter  beat 

Than  those  of  furloughmen. 
'Twill  all  seem  like  a  happy  dream, 

But,  oh!  how  short  and  sweet. 
This  oasis  in  our  four  years, 

When  friends  long  parted  meet. 

And  then  once  more  we  will  return 

To  West  Point  battle  ground, 
To  fight  again  for  two  years  more. 

That  is,  if  we're  not  "found;" 
So  furloughmen  just  brace  yourselves. 

And  keep  hopes'  fire  ablaze. 
For  we,  too,  shall  be  jolly  "Cits" 

In  just  a  few  more  days. . 


THE    FURLOUGHMAN.  179 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  FURLOUGHMAN. 

ANOTHER  June  rolled  around,  the  Board  of 
Visitors  arrived,  the  customary  salute  was 
fired  and  the  alumni  meeting  held.  The 
examinations  were  completed,  another  class  was 
graduated  and  a  new  one  admitted  to  the 
corps.  As  usual,  at  the  annual  examinations 
some  of  the  "found"  were  turned  back  to 
join  the  next  class,  while  the  other  unfor- 
tunates left  the  Point  to  return  no  more  as 
cadets.  The  fortunate  graduates  and  the  happj 
furloughmen,  after  drawing  the  "balances  due" 
from  the  Treasurer  of  the  Academy,  donned  their 
"cit"  clothes  and  went  on  furlough ;  the  graduates 
to  assume  the  duties  of  Second  Lieutenants  in  the 
army  at  the  expiration  of  their  "graduating  leave" 
on  the  30th  of  the  following  September,  and  the 
second  classmen  to  return  to  the  Point  at  the  ex- 
piration of  their  "furlough"  on  the  28th  of  August. 
The  amounts  due  varied  according  to  the  economy 
practiced  by  the  cadets.  Some  had  nothing  due, 
while  others  received  as  much  as  two  hundred  dol- 
lars in  addition  to  the  "equipment  fund."  Four 
dollars  per  month  Is  retained  from  the  pay  of  each 


180  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

cadet  as  his  "equipment  fund,"  and  it  is  given  to 
him  when  he  graduates  or  leaves  the  Academy 
never  to  return  as  a  cadet. 

Mine  was  the  furlough  class  this  year,  and  when 
I  reached  home  my  mother  made  me  open  my 
trunk  in  the  back  yard,  and  she  herself  was  pres- 
ent to  see  that  I  shook  and  aired  everything  I  had, 
for  the  reason,  she  said,  that,  as  there  were  no 
women  to  keep  things  clean  about  our  barracks, 
she  was  sure  that  we  had  bedbugs  there. 

I  had  not  been  at  home  long  when  an  old  Quaker 
called  on  me  and  said :  "H ,  I  have  been  wait- 
ing for  thee  to  come  home.  During  the  war  I  no- 
ticed that  soldiers  always  stepped  off  with  the  left 
foot  first,  and  now  that  thee  has  been  to  the  Gov- 
ernment's Military  School  for  two  years,  thee  prob- 
ably knows  why."  I  had  to  confess  my  ignorance 
on  the  subject  then,  and  I  must  confess  it  now. 

One  day  I  received  an  invitation  to  visit  a  bat- 
talion of  State  Militia  in  camp,  and  I  was  request- 
ed to  take  my  uniform.  I  accepted  the  invitation, 
and  wore  it  in  camp.  I  was  able  to  and  did  give 
instruction  in  many  points  of  the  tactics,  which 
at  that  time  were  new  to  the  militia,  and  at  the 
same  time  I  learned  much  at  this  camp  that  was 
new  and  useful  to  me.  At  the  request  of  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  camp  I  acted  as  Adjutant 
at  parades  and  guard-mounts.  I  got  along  all 
right  after  the  first  dress  parade,  where  I  took 
post  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  commanding  officer 
after  having  presented  arms  to  him,     However, 


r^< 


l0  hi?  Qimn  bg  ihf}K>^< 

jpiba^  rUrmng  tiuriig 
tlji'  pnrampmmt 


^  V^-LAlrlGSJiS. 


STANHOPE  E  BLUNT  CEO  T  T  PATTERSON  HENRV  R   LEMLY 

THOMAS  C  WOODBURY  ADOIS  M  HENRY  HARRY   H   LANDON 

J  W  WILKINSON  HARRY  C  WTCA NT  LEVCN    C   ALLEN 

J  LtW  WILSON  CHARLES   W   ROWELL  C  E  SCOTT   WOOD 

ALFRED  REYNOLDS  EDMUND  K  WEBSTER  W»  L  GEARY 


[ggS^ 


^omsii 


^pfjuijeis- 


181 


%«« 


THE    FURLOUGHMAN.  183 

the  militia  of  my  state  was  not  then  as  well  post- 
ed on  tactics  as  it  is  to-day;  my  blunder  was  not 
discovered. 

During  furlough  some  of  my  classmates  visited 
me,  and  I  visited  some  of  them,  and  we  had  a  jolly 
good  time  of  course,  for  all  college  men  enjoy  their 
vacations.  While  students  of  other  colleges  usual- 
ly have  several  months'  vacation  every  year.  West 
Point  cadets  have  but  one  vacation  in  their  four 
years.  With  many  pleasures  and  not  a  care  the 
summer  soon  passed,  and  as  usual  most  of  the 
furloughmen  met  in  New  York  to  return  together 
from  there. 

A  warm  welcome  awaited  us  in  "Camp  Belk- 
nap," that  being  the  name  of  the  camp  at  the 
Point  this  year.  Mustaches  and  side  whiskers  that 
we  had  grown  during  the  summer  all  had  to  come 
off  before  we  reported  our  return  to  the  Adju- 
tant. We  soon  shaved,  visited  the  trunk  rooms, 
donned  our  uniforms  and  reported  for  duty.  After 
a  gay  time  on  the  "color  line^'  that  evening  we 
turned  in  with  the  first  classmen,  who  had  long 
been  our  friends,  although  they  were  once  the 
yearlings  who  had  deviled  us  in  our  plebe  camp; 
so  quickly  is  the  deviling  forgiven  and  yet  never 
forgotten.  The  next  day  we  "broke  camp"  and 
returned  to  barracks,  this  time  to  begin  on  the 
hardest  studies*  of  the  four  years.  It  did  not  take 
us  long  to  get  down  to  hard  study  and  drill  again 


*See  Appendix. 


184  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

and  to  become  interested  once  more  in  the  few 
things  that  afford  pleasure  to  cadets  during  the 
Academic  year. 

After  arriving  at  the  Point  and  before  reporting 
the  return  from  furlough,  it  has  long  been  a  cus- 
tom to  have  a  class  picture  taken  upon  the  chapel 
steps,  and  when  sitting  for  this  picture  furlough- 
men  generally  look  as  "tough"  as  possible,  as  may 
be  seen  from  the  picture  of  the  group  of  furlough- 
men. 

When  marching  to  and  from  meals,  long  be- 
fore I  myself  became  a  second  classman,  I  ob- 
served four  members  of  the  then  second  class  who 
did  not  march  with  the  battalion,  but  who  strolled 
leisurely  to  and  from  the  Mess  Hall.  My  first 
thought  was  that  they  had  been  excused  by  the 
Post  Surgeon  from  marching  to  and  from  meals, 
but  upon  inquiry  I  learned  that  these  four  w'ere 
"Company  Clerks,"  and  that  they  were  detailed  on 
special  duty  upon  the  recommendations  of  the  first 
sergeants.    Hence  I  promptly  secured  the  promise 

of  D 1  that  if  he  obtained  the  first  sergeancy 

of  C  Company  I  should  be  the  company  clerk.  He 
was  made  the  first  sergeant  and  kept  his  promise 
to  me,  and  for  more  than  a  year  I  made  out  the 
muster  rolls  and  guard  details  of  C  Company. 
From  that  day  I  have  not  walked  post  as  a  senti- 
nel; the  first  year  because  I  was  company  clerk, 
and  the  next  year  because  first  classmen  do  not 
do  guard  duty  after  the  plebes  begin  to  go  on 
guai;d.    Neither  did  I  march  to  and  from  meals 


I 


THE    PURLOUGHMAN.  185 

any  more;  the  first  year  because  I  was  company 
clerk  and  the  next  because  I  was  one  of  twelve 
first  classmen  who,  at  that  time,  took  their  meals 
at  a  private  house  in  Professor's  Row. 

Professor  K k  was  an  old  bachelor,  but  he 

kept  open  house  en  Saturday  afternoons,  and  it 
was  a  great  pleasure  to  him  to  welcome  cadet  call- 
ers. He  always  treated  them  to  waffles  and 
maple  syrup  or  to  something  else  equally  as  deli- 
cious and  not  found  on  the  Mess  Hall  bill  of  fare. 

In  my  day  the  gas  tips  in  cadet  rooms  did  not 
give  a  very  good  light,  so  some  of  the  cadets  bought 
better  tips  and  when  caught  using  them  they  were 
of  course  reported  for  tampering  with  public  prop- 
erty. G r,  of  my  class,  had  an  "Argand  burn- 
er," and  at  first  he  was  very  careful  to  take  it  off 
for  insi)ection  of  quarters,  but  one  evening  he  was 
caught  unawares  and  reported.  For  this  serious 
offense  he  was  confined  to  "light  prison"  for  sev- 
eral months.  Light  prisons  at  that  time  were 
rooms  in  the  angle  of  barracks,  and  they  were  off 
limits  for  cadets  not  there  in  confinement.  The 
cadet  officer  of  the  day  carried  the  prison  keys, 
and  at  certain  hours,  such  as  for  recitations  and 

drills,  he  would  let  out  the  prisoners.    G"- r  got 

so  tired  of  being  alone  that  he  removed  a  panel 
of  his  prison  door  and  then  often  went  visiting 
after  taps.  But  he  got  out  through  the  panel  once 
too  often,  for  he  was  caught  and  then  his  prison 
door  was  barred  and  his  stay  in  prison  lengthened 
many  weeks. 


186  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

One  day  when  Captain  B s  had  my  cavalry 

platoon  out  for  a  long  ride  in  the  country,  just 
before  passing  an  orchard  filled  with  luscious  ripe 
apples,  the  Captain  rode  from  the  head  to  the  rear 
of  the  column  and  said  to  the  rear  guide:   "Mr. 

H s,  don't  let  anyone  go  into  that  orchard," 

and  then  returned  to  the  head  of  the  column. 

H s  saw  to  it  that  none  of  us  "fell  out"  of  ranks, 

but  he  himself  treated  to  apples  from  that  orchard. 

Cadets  are  taught  the  use  of  the  pencil,  pen  and 
brush,  the  latter  in  water  colors  only.  In  this 
work  w^e  painted  from  models  of  landscapes,  fig- 
ures, ships,  etc.,  and,  as  may  be  expected,  some 
cadets  were  more  skillful  than  others.  Those  near 
the  foot  of  the  class  in  drawing  had  hard  work  to 
keep  from  being  found  deficient  in  it.  To  get  bet- 
ter results  in  water  color  work  the  professor  occa- 
sionally directed  a  cadet  to  wash  out  a  part  of  his 
drawihg  and  begin  that  part  over  again.  In  look- 
ing at  Cadet  G e's  work  one  day,  Professor 

W r  directed  him  to  wash  out  the  "hull"  of  the 

ship  he  was  at  work  on.  After  a  while  the  profes- 
sor returned  and  began  to  scold,  w^hen  G e 

"innocently"  said:  "Why,  professor,  you  told  me 
to  wash  out  the  'whole'  of  it."  The  topographical 
sketch  of  the  most  interesting  part  of  West  Point 
given  on  another  page  is  a  reproduction  of  a  speci- 
men of  cadet  pen  and  ink  work. 

W^e  were  kept  so  busy  during  this  year  that  the 
time  passed  rapidly,  notwithstanding  many  priv- 
ileges that  we  had  ienjoyed  were  taken  away  from 


THE    FURLOUGHMAN.  187 

US.  For  instance,  this  year  we  were  not  allowed 
to  go  on  Christmas  leave,  nor  to  receive  Christmas 
boxes,  nor  to  give  an  entertainment  on  New  Year's 
Eve.  The  fact  is  a  new  superintendent  had  taken 
charge  of  affairs  and  it  did  not  take  us  long  to  find 
it  out.  Still  we  soon  became  accustomed  to  the 
new  order  of  things  and  all  went  well. 

As  I  have  said,  cadets  wore  old  shoes  to  reveille, 
and  the  accompanying  verses  express  the  kindly 
feelings  they  have  for  them : 

MY  OLD  REVEILLES. 

You  may  talk  of  your  gaiters  as  much  as  you  please, 
Their  beauty,  their  elegance,  comfort  and  ease; 
But  of  all  the  shoes  that  e'er  shoemaker  made, 
Not  a  word  that  is  better  of  them  can  be  said 
Than  Cadets  will  say  and  they'll  not  say  it  to  please. 
But  for  pure,  honest  love  of  their  old  Reveilles. 

Long  ages  ago,  they  have  seen  their  best  day; 

Tho'  rusty  and  holey,  I'll  not  throw  them  away. 
But  fondly  will  cherish  tho'  the  uppers  wear  out, 
And  the  soles  are  all  ready  to  sail  up  the  spout, 

For  there's  no  shoes  in  the  world  possess  so  much  ease 

For  my  poor  tired  feet  as  my  old  Reveilles. 

The  worldly  may  scoff  and  at  sight  of  them  sneer. 
But  I'll  cling  to  them  yet  for  old  memories  dear; 
They  covered  my  feet  when  a  Plebe  in  distress. 
And  into  my  Yearling  year  helped  me  to  press; 
As  long  as  winds  whistle  and  waves  roll  o'er  the  seas 
Will  I  look  with  kind  glance  on  my  old  Reveilles. 

At  last  when  the  policeman  shall  come  in  some  day. 

And  gather  the  "rimnants"  that  I've  thrown  away, 
And  bears  the  old  rubbish  to  the  heap  down  below. 
Along  with  the  rest  in  the  dust  and  the  snow. 

You'll  see  them  there  lying,  producers  of  ease 

Sad,  lonely,  neglected,  my  old  Reveilles. 


188  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Others  and  newer  may  take  their  old  place, 
And  with  plenteous  blacking  shine  smiles  in  my  face. 
My  feet  will  look  smaller  and  better  perhaps, 
But  in  the  sweet  slumbers  that  come  after  Taps, 
Foremost  and  fairest  of  all  visions  that  please, 
Will  be  happy  remembrances  of  my  old  Reveilles, 

Let  them  go  while  a  tear  drop  in  memory  flows 
Gently  down  from  my  eye-lid  and  rests  on  my  nose, 

But  little  they'll  reck  of  my  sorrow  or  pain. 

Nor  of  my  longing  to  get  them  again. 
While  over  their  resting-place  cold  winds  scatter  leaves 
Where  they  peacefully  sleep — Farewell,  Reveilles! 

Artillery  drills  come  in  each  year  of  the  four. 
The  first  year  the  drill  is  on  foot  at  the  light  bat- 
tery; the  next  year  with  horses  at  the  light  bat- 
tery; the  third  year  on  foot  at  the  siege,  mortar 
and  sea-coast  batteries,  and  the  last  year  first 
classmen  act  as  assistants  to  the  instructors. 
Light  battery  drill  with  horses  is  one  that  all 
cadets  thoroughly  enjoy.  There  are  six  pieces 
(each  with  its  caisson)  in  the  battery,  and  there  is 
great  rivalry  between  the  cadets  and  drivers  at 
each  piece,  especially  in  executing  some  maneuver 
that  ends  with  firing. 

In  my  day  the  target  for  mortar  drill  was  a  bar- 
rel on  a  post,  placed  at  the  foot  of  Cro'  Nest,  1,000 
yards  or  more  from  the  mortar  battery,  near 
"Trophy  Point."  One  day  I  was  "gunner"  of  a 
piece  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  knock  the  bar- 
rel from  its  post,  a  feat  rarely  accomplished,  as 
it  is  very  difficult  to  strike  a  small  object  with  a 
mortar. 


THE    FURLOUGHMAN.  189 

One  of  the  guns  of  the  sea-coast  battery  was  a 
very  large  one,  the  diameter  of  the  bore  being 
twenty  inches.  One  day  at  drill  at  this  battery, 
while  at  "rest,"  one  of  the  cadets,  who  was  a  little 
fellow,  crawled  into  the  bore  of  this  big  gun.  After 
getting  in  a  certain  distance  the  more  he  tried  to 
get  out  the  farther  in  he  went,  hence  he  had  to 
be  pulled  out  by  the  heels.  The  instructor,  ap- 
preciating the  situation,  threatened  to  report  him 
for  being  off  limits. 

Cadets  are  taught  photography,  and  on  pleasant 
May  days  second  classmen  can  often  be  seen  with 
cameras  taking  views  of  the  different  buildings 
and  of  the  many  pretty  sights  about  the  Point. 

One  pleasant  afternoon  in  May  a  classmate  and 
I  were  walking  along  Professor's  Kow,  near  the 
north  gate,  and  we  saw  three  pretty  young  ladies, 

daughters  of  Professor  W r,  sitting  on  their 

porch,  so  w^e  stopped  for  a  chat.  The  ladies  said 
that  they  would  play  the  piano  and  sing  for  us  if 
we  would  go  in  the  house.  My  friend  declined  the 
invitation,  because  he  was  too  near  found  on  de- 
merits to  risk  being  caught  off  cadet  limits,  and 
we  did  not  have  a  permit.  Up  to  that  time  I  had 
had  but  few  demerits  and  had  been  lucky  in  never 
having  been  caught  off  limits,  so  I  decided  to  ac- 
cept the  invitation.  When  there  was  no  officer  in 
sight  I  went  in,  and  passed  a  merry  hour  with  the 
young  ladies.  But  when  I  came  out  an  officer  saw 
me,  and  reported  me  for  being  off  cadet  limits.  I 
wrote  an  explanation,  stating  where  I  was  at  the 


190  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

time,  and  that  was  all.  "Off  Limits"  is  a  serious 
offense,  especially  in  an  old  cadet,  and  besides  re- 
ceiving five  or  six  demerits,!  was  given  six"extras" 
officially  designated  as  "Saturday  afternoon  pun- 
ishments." This  I  did  not  relish  at  all,  especially 
as  I  had  never  had  any  before,  but  I  learned  to  my 
sorrow  what  an  extra  meant,  and  I  had  ample  time 
to  ponder  over  the  gravity  of  my  offense  as  I  paced 
to  and  fro,  across  the  area  of  barracks,  carrying 
my  rifle  "just  so,"  from  2  p.  m.  till  ten  minutes  be- 
fore dress  parade  at  sunset.  I  never  till  then  fully 
realized  the  length  of  the  days  in  May  and  June. 
When  it  came  time  to  go  to  camp  again  I  had 
walked  only  four  of  the  six  extras,  and  as  there 
are  no  "extras"  in  camp,  for  the  remaining  two 
I  was  given  two  weeks  "confinement,"  i.  e.,  I  had 
to  be  in  my  tent  all  the  time  for  the  first  two  weeks 
in  my  first  class  camp,  except,  of  course,  when  ab- 
sent from  it  on  duty  or  by  special  permission. 

Just  before  this  Academic  year  closed  my  class 
selected  its  quota  of  managers  for  the  coming 
summer  hops,  and  also  all  of  the  managers  for  the 
hop  that  my  class  gave  to  the  graduating  class. 
The  invitations  and  programs  for  these  dances 
were  sent  to  friends,  and  they  began  to  arrive  with 
the  Board  of  Visitors  and  old  graduates  who  came 
to  attend  the  Alumni  meeting  and  dinner  in  the 
bachelor  officers'  part  of  the  Mess  Hall. 

Graduates  often  wear  a  modest  little  button  that 
was  adopted  many  years  ago  at  an  Alumni  meet- 
ing at  West  Point.    It  is  a  miniature  "bell  button" 


Jhe  pleasure  oq  YdUJ 

y^  IJftf  TO  BE  (^\4k  TO  ^(^HE 

jfj);;,  Gf:  HARRISON  E,S   BEACOM.         ■"     ,^p?v 


E  W.CASEY.  J.  E.  BLOOM 


.:-»V 


i!?> 


¥> 


v^; 


vr '•-'/- ^■^■'. 


191 


THE    FURLOUGHMAN.  193 

in  shape,  with  the  eye  soldered  to  a  circular  base 
piece.  The  part  next  to  the  eye  is  a  gray  stone, 
emblematical  of  the  cadet  gray;  then  there  is  a 
gold  band  for  the  class  motto,  then  a  dark  blue 
stone  symbolical  of  the  army  blue;  then  a  round 
piece  of  gold  for  the  year  of  graduation.  The  date 
piece  is  fastened  on  its  under  side  to  the  eye  piece, 
through  holes  in  the  stones. 

The  graduating  class  this  year  was  an  unusually 
large  one  and  fears  were  entertained  that  there 
would  not  be  vacancies  enough  in  the  army  for  all 
of  this  class,  for  the  promotion  of  the  meritorious 
non-commissioned  officers  from  among  the  enlist- 
ed men  in  the  army  and  also  for  the  usual  num- 
ber of  appointments  as  second  lieutenants  in  the 
army,  direct  from  civil  life,  members  of  this  class 
were  encouraged  to  resign  immediately  upon  grad- 
uation. As  only  one  graduate  of  this  class  re- 
signed his  commission  as  second  lieutenant,  the 
number  of  appointments  direct  from  civil  life  was 
materially  reduced. 

Ever  since  the  foundation  of  the  Academy  the 
graduates  have  been  promoted  to  the  lowest  com- 
missioned grade  in  the  army,  and  only  eleven  of 
the  3,741  have  resigned  immediately  upon  gradu- 
ation. In  1880  four  of  the  eleven  took  advantage 
of  an  Act  of  Congress  approved  June  23,  1879, 
which  provided  "That  each  member  of  the  gradu- 
ating classes  of  the  Military  Academy  of  1879  and 
1880,  after  graduation,  may  elect,  with  the  assent 
of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  receive  the  gross  sum 


194  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  mileage 
to  his  place  of  residence;  and  the  acceptance  of 
this  gross  sum  shall  render  him  ineligible  to  ap- 
pointment in  the  army,  except  in  the  event  of  war, 
until  two  years  after  his  graduation;  and  the 
amount  required  to  defray  the  expenditure  herein 
provided  for  shall  be  paid  out  of  any  money  in  the 
treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated."  The  Act  of  J 
Congress  approved  May  17,  1886,  given  in  the  ap-  ^ 
pendix,  is  now  in  force. 


1       .'W\m:^ 


■*;    ■;^     *  .  '   •».' 


THE    GRADUATE.  197 


A 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    GRADUATE. 

FTER  the  June  examinations  were  over  we 
went  into  camp  again  at  the  usual  place. 
This  year  it  was  named  "Camp  Thayer"  in 
honor  of  a  former  superintendent  of  the  Academy, 
and  as  first  classmen  have  precedence  over  all 
other  cadets,  it  was  "our  camp."  Among  the  young 
lady  visitors  were  many  who  had  been  to  the  Point 
for  several  summers.  They  seemed  like  old  friends 
and  the  pleasure  of  meeting  again  was  mutual. 
The  first  thing  of  importance  for  us  to  do  was  to 
arrange  for  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July 
and  for  a  special  hop  that  evening.  We  elected 
officers  to  conduct  the  holiday  exercises  and  to 
have  charge  of  the  special  hop.  It  was  not  obliga- 
tory upon  any  one  to  attend  those  festivities,  but  as 
the  weather  was  perfect  and  as  there  were  no 
other  inviting  places  to  go,  everybody  who  could 
be  present  attended  the  exercises  held  in  the  morn- 
ing in  the  pretty  little  chapel,  and  in  the  evening 
some  witnessed  the  handsome  pyrotechnic  display, 
while  others  attended  the  hop,  and  as  usual  the 
Mess  Hall  was  beautifully  decorated  and  used  for 
the  special  hop. 


198  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

In  my  day,  by  special  dispensation,  twelve 
cadets  of  the  first  class  were  permitted  to  take 
meals  at  the  Misses  Thompson,  who  lived  in  Gen- 
eral Washington's  old  log  Headquarter  House, 
in  Professor's  Row.  These  ladies  were  quite  old 
when  I  knew  them ;  the  oldest  of  the  three  sisters 
died  of  old  age  shortly  before  I  went  there  to  board. 
It  was  not  easy  to  get  a  seat  at  the  Misses  Thomp- 
son's table,  and  when  a  cadet  secured  one  without 
any  conditions  imposed  he  generally  "willed  it  to 
his  plebe."  And  this  is  the  way  I  obtained  mine. 
My  predecessor  had  a  seat  there  and  he  willed  it 
to  me,  but  as  I  could  not  go  there  until  I  became  a 
first  classman  certain  members  of  the  three  classes 
ahead  of  me  had  the  seat  on  condition  that  it 
should  come  to  me  when  I  became  eligible.  But 
this  was  not  all,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following 
(old  form)  permit: 

West  Point,  New  York,  June  19,  18—. 

Cadet  R d.  Private  2nd  Class  "C"  Co.,  has  permission  to 

take  his  meals  at  the  Misses  Thompson  (to  have  the  seat  last 

occupied  by  Cadet  R p),  his  name  having  been  proposed 

and  accepted. 

J.    F.    S h, 

E.    U n,  Com'd'g  Co.  "C." 


Comdt.  Cadets. 


Approved: 

T.  H.  R r. 

Superintendent. 


The  father  of  these  old  ladies  rendered  most 
valuable  services  to  Gefieral  Washington  during 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  as  his  family  was  left 


JULY  4  18.... 

ANNIVERSARY 

OF    THE 

Independence  of  the  United  States 

CELEBRATION  AND  HOP  BY 

THE  CORPS  OF  CADETS 

TO   WHICH 

The  pleasure  of  your    Company    is    respectfully    requested. 

Ceremonies  in  the  Chapel  to  commence  at 

Ten  A.  M. 


Marshall,  Orator,  Reader, 

CADET  COFFIN.        CADET  TOTTEN.  CADET  EATON. 

President, 
CADET    HOYLE. 

Hop  Commencing  at  Eight  P.  M. 

Floor  Managers: 

CADET  BIRNEY,  CADET  O'CONNOR,   CADET  LA  POINT. 

Pyrotechnic  Display  on  the  Cavalry  Plain. 


199 


THE    GRADUATE.  201 

in  humble  circumstances  they  were  permitted  to 
live  at  the  Point  and  board  twelve  cadets.  We 
used  to  think  that  Miss  Amelia  was  about  ninety 
years  old  and  that  Miss  Kate  was  seventy-five. 
Miss  Kate  for  months  talked  of  making  a  trip  to 
New  York,  but  finally  Miss  Amelia  said:  "Cathar- 
ine could  not  go,  as  she  was  too  young  and  giddy." 

There  was  an  old  saying  at  the  Point  in  my  day  • 
that  "extras  breed  extras,"  and  I  found  it  so  in 
my  case.  While  I  was  serving  the  two  weeks  con- 
finement that  were,  given  me,  in  lieu  of  the  last 
two  of  the  six  extras  for  "Off  Limits,"  an  old  boy 
friend  from  home  visited  the  Point,  and  I  got  per- 
mission to  be  with  him  in  rear  of  the  guard  tents 
for  half  an  hour.  We  could  not  talk  about  every- 
thing we  wanted  to  in  half  an  hour,  so  I  told  him 
just  how  to  run  the  gauntlet,  that  is,  how  to  cross 
the  sentinel's  post  and  get  to  my  tent,  which  he  did. 
At  that  particular  time  of  day  nearly  all  of  my 
classmates  were  out  of  camp;  some  on  permit 
visiting  friends  at  the  hotel,  some  boating  and 
others  anywhere  fancy  took  them.  I  had  the  walls 
of  my  tent  down,  so  that  my  friend  could  not  be 
seen,  for  it  was  a  violation  of  the  regulations  to 
have  a  citizen  in  the  body  of  the  camp.  He  and  I 
were  having  a  good  time  talking  over  boyhood 

days.    R s,  a  classmate,  was  officer  of  the  day, 

and  thinking  that  I  was  lonesome  he  came  around 
to  cheer  me  up,  saying  that  my  two  weeks  was 
nearly  over,  but,  alas,  he  had  no  sooner  opened  my 
tent  than  he  saw  my  friend,  and  as  the  officer  of 


202  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

the  day  is  "on  honor"  to  report  all  violations  of 
the  regulations  that  he  sees^  he  had  to  report  me 
for  "Citizen  in  tent,"  and  to  send  my  friend  at  once 
out  of  camp.  I  have  never  seen  that  friend  since 
to  tell  him  that  I  was  given  two  weeks'  confine- 
ment for  that  violation  of  the  regulations. 

C s  was  a  Cadet  Captain,  and  one  day  when 

walking  with  a  lady  between  the  camp  and  the 

hotel,  the  lady  raised  her  parasol,  and  C s,  to  be 

polite,  carried  it  for  her.  An  officer  saw  him  with 
the  parasol  and  reported  him.  For  this  serious  of- 
fense he  was  reduced  to  the  ranks.  It  was  not 
long  {ffterward  that  the  young  lady  saw  him  carry- 
ing a  rifle  and  pacing  to  and  fro  on  Post  No.  2,  but 
as  he  did  not  wish  further  punishment  he  did  not 
speak  to  her  as  she  crossed  his  post;  he  waited  un- 
til he  was  relieved  and  then  told  her  why. 

We  spent  some  time  out  in  Fort  Clinton  digging 
trenches  and  making  fascines,  gabions  and  a  sap 
roller,  thus  imitating  methods  used  in  the  attack 
and  defense  of  a  fortified  place.  We  also  spent 
some  time  in  the  laboratory  making  rockets,  bombs 
and  other  articles  used  at  times  by  the  military 
in  time  of  war.  With  the  assistance  of  the  plebes 
we  constructed  pontoon  bridges  some  distance  out 
into  the  Hudson. 

In  my  day  we  played  base  ball  occasionally,  but 
it  was  not  a  very  popular  game  at  the  Point,  not 
like  football  has  been  of  recent  years.  Boating 
was  allowed  then,  and  the  first,  second  and  third 
classes  each  owned  a  number  of  row  boats,  and 


.^  ^x^. 


7^'i 


|5«'e.Sl(,HE»-    E.WCASEY    CM-i 


E.s.8e*cow 


f-O  NOVLf,  j.j.CRITTEHDEN. 
J-M.BALDWlN.   0  H.KIN 


J: 


"-t- 


-^fe"" 


^^rJ)o,Xr. 


'■'^e  ,s  _ 


203 


THE    GRADUATE.  205 

(luring  camp  and  in  barracks  on  Saturday  after- 
noons the  boats  were  always  in  demand.  Now 
first  classmen  only  enjoy  boating  privileges. 

One  evening,  when  I  was  officer  of  the  guard,  not 
long  after  taps,  the  sentinel  on  No.  1  challenged: 
"Who  comes  there?,"  and  as  I  was  awake  and  in 
the  first  guard  tent,  I  heard  the  reply:  "Friend 
with  lemons,"  and  also  the  sentinel's  call,  "Halt! 
Friend  with  lemons.  Corporal  of  the  Guard,  Post 
No.  1."  As  the  reply  was  an  unusual  one  I  went 
out,  and  seeing  a  man  in  civilian  dress,  standing 
alone,  I  directed  the  Corporal  to  advance  the  friend 
with  lemons.  The  man  advanced  and  began  to 
deliver  lemons.  He  had  lemons  in  every  pocket, 
and  he  had  a  good  many  pockets,  too.  There  were 
more  lemons  than  the  Corporal  and  I  could  carry 
(for  there  are  no  pockets  in  cadet  uniforms),,  so  I 
called  other  members  of  the  guard  to  help  us  carry 
lemons.  The  gentleman  proved  to  be  an  old  army 
officer  who  had  entered  the  army  from  private  life 
and  earned  a  Brigadier's  star  during  the  war.  He 
said  he  thought  he  would  treat  the  guard  that 
night,  and  that  while  I  sent  to  the  tank  for  a 
bucket  of  ice  water  he  would  go  back  to  the  hotel 
(not  far  from  camp)  for  sugar.  About  the  time 
two  members  of  the  guard  returned  with  ice  water 
No.  1  challenged  again,  and  the  answer  this  time 
was  "Friend  with  sugar."  It  did  not  take  long  to 
advance  the  friend  with  sugar  and  to  disarm  him, 
not  only  of  sugar,  but  of  a  package  of  cakes,  too. 
We  were  soon  feasting,  and  it  seemed  to  please  the 


206  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

General  to  see  us  enjoying  his  treat.  lie  knew 
that  we  violated  the  regulations  by  admitting  him 
to  camp,  but  he  promised  not  to  report  us.  He 
then  treated  us  to  cigars,  and  he  and  I  sat  under 
the  trees  for  an  hour  or  two  discussing  topics  of 
interest  to  cadets.    In  speaking  of  the  hops  I  told 

the  General  how  B y,  C s  and  I  had  taken 

many  lessons  in  dancing,  and  that  we  were  too 
timid  to  venture  on  the  floor  at  a  hop,  but  that  we 
had  agreed  with  one  another  to  attend  our  next 
hop,  and  to  waltz  or  treat  at  the  Dutch  woman's. 
The  next  evening  was  the  time  for  the  three  to 
dance,  and  just  as  I  was  ready  to  start  for  the  hall 
the  General  called  for  me,  and  we  went  to  the 
hop  together.  As  we  approached  the  Academic 
Building  we  observed  that  the  hop  room  was  well 
filled.  We  went  to  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  the 
General  surprised  me  by  presenting  me  to  his  wife, 
for  he  had  talked  as  though  he  was  alone  at  the 
Point.  His  good  wife  said  that  she  had  come  to 
the  hop  in  the  hotel  'bus  with  other  ladies.  The 
music  ceased  and  a  classmate  brought  a  very 
pretty  young  lady  over  near  us,  thanked  her  and 
said  that  she  was  the  best  dancer  in  the  room. 
The  General  again  surprised  me  by  saying:   "Mr. 

R d,  this  is  my  daughter."    At  that  moment  the 

orchestra  struck  up  a  waltz  and  the  young  lady 

said:   "Come,  Mr.  R d,  this  is  our  dance."    I 

protested  that  I  did  not  waltz,  but  she  put  my 
arm  around  her  waist,  saying:  "Papa  has  told 
me  of  your  agreement  to  waltz  to-night  or  to  treat 


I 


THE    GRADUATE.  209 

at  the  Dutch  woman's,  so  come  on;"  and  I  have 
waltzed  ever  since  then.  After  I  got  started  to 
waltz  I  found  the  hops  very  attractive  places  to 
be,  and  I  was  more  than  sorry  that  I  had  not  met 

Miss  S r  long  before  I  did.    It  was  a  long  way 

from  the  hotel  to  the  hop-room,  too  far  for  young 
ladies  who  danced  much  to  walk,  so  they  generally 
rode,  but  the  cadets  could  not  ride  with  them,  as 
it  was  "Off  Limits"  to  get  into  a  vehicle.  There  were 
always  plenty  of  young  ladies  at  the  hops,  and 
some  of  them  traveled  several  miles  to  attend; 
some  came  from  Highland  Falls,  some  from  Cold 
Springs  and  others  from  Garrison's,  besides  those 
from  the  West  Point  Hotel.  They  may  come  from 
greater  distances  now  that  there  is  the  West  Shore 
Railroad  to  travel  on. 

At  one  of  the  hops  I  met  a  New  York  lady.  She 
was  a  good  dancer  and  a  good  talker,  too,  but  she 
was  not  very  well  posted  on  the  history  of  our 
country.  She  asked  me  what  state  I  was  from,  and 
when  I  replied  "Indiana,"  she  said:  "From  way 
out  there!  You  have  plenty  of  buffalo  and  other 
wild  animals  there,  don't  you?'* 

There  is  something  strange  about  the  partiality 
young  ladies  manifest  for  the  cadets.  I  have  seen 
many  an  instance  where  a  young  lady  would  use 
all  her  power  to  be  with  a  certain  cadet,  and  at 
his  graduating  hop  and  afterward  she  would  be- 
stow her  favors  on  some  member  of  the  next  class ; 
a  cadet  and  an  officer,  although  one  and  the  same 
man,  were  different  persons  in  her  eyes.    But  the 


210  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

young  lady,  to  succeed,  had  to  be  very  careful  of 
her  conduct  toward  the  cadets  in  the  next  class 
that  she  wished  to  be  friendly  with  after  the  first 
class  graduated,  because  if  she  had  ever  been  rude 
to  them  they  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  her. 

Our  summer  hops  began  at  8  and  closed  at  11 
p.  m.,  but  we  could  stay  later  at  the  Fourth  of  July 
hop,  the  last  summer  one,  and  at  the  graduating 
hop  in  June.  The  following  were  the  popular 
dances  in  my  day: 

Waltz,  Galop,  Deux  Temps,  Trois  Temps,  Lan- 
ders, Redowa,  Polka,  Pqlka-Redowa,  Quadrille, 
chottische  and  Medley. 

AT    THE    HOP. 

"Yes,  I'm  here,  I  suppose  you're  delighted. 

You'd  heard  I  was  not  coming  down? 
Why  I've  been  here  a  week — rather  early — 

I  know,  but  its  horrid  in  town. 
At  Boston?    Most  certainly,  thank  you,  • 

This  music  is  perfectly  sweet; 
Of  course  I  like  dancing  in  summer. 

It's  warm  but  I  don't  mind  the  heat. 
The  clumsy  thing!     Oh!   how  he  hurt  me! 

I  really  can't  dance  any  more — 
Let's  walk — see  they're  forming  a  Landers; 

These  square  dances  are  such  a  bore, 
My  cloak,  oh!  I  really  don't  need  it, 

Well  carry  it — so,  in  the  folds, 
I  hate  it,  but  Ma  qiade  me  bring  it. 

She's  frightened  to  death  about  colds. 
This  is  rather  cooler  than  dancing, 

They're  lovely  piazzas  up  here; 
Those  lanterns  look  sweet  in  the  bushes. 

It's  lucky  the  night  is  so  clear. 


THE    GRADUATE.  211 

« 

I  am  rather  tired  of  this  corner — 

Very  well,  if  you  like,  I  don't  care — 
But  you'll  have  to  sit  on  the  railing — 

You  see  there  is  only  one  chair. 
So  long  since  you've  seen  me! — Oh!  ages — 

Let's  see,  why  it's  ten  days  ago. 
Seems  years — Oh!  of  course — don't  look  spooney, 

It  isn't  becoming  you  know. 
How  bright  the  stars  seem  to-night,  don't  they? 

What  was  it  you  said  about  eyes? 
How  sweet! — Why  you  must  be  a  poet — 

One  never  can  tell  till  he  tries. 
Why  can't  you  be  sensible,  Harry? 

I  don't  like  men's  arms  on  my  chair, 
Be  still,  if  you  don't  stop  that  nonsense 

I'll  get  up  and  leave  j'-ou,  so  there! 
Oh!  please  don't— I  don't  want  to  hear  it — 

A  boy  like  you,  talking  of  love. 
My  answer — Well,  Sir,  you  shall  have  it — 

Just  wait  till  I  get  off  my  glove. 
See  that?    Well  you  needn't  look  tragic, 

Its  only  a   solitaire  ring — 
Of  course,  I  am  proud  of  it,  very — 

It's  rather  an  elegant  thing. 
Engaged! — yes — why,  didn't  you  know  it? 

I  thought  the  news  must  have  reached  here, 
Why,  the  wedding  will  be  in  October, 

The  happy  man?    Charley  LeClear. 
Why  don't  blame  me — I  tried  to  stop  you. 

But  you  would  go  on  like  a  goose. 
I'm  sorry  it  happened— forget  it — 

Don't  think  of  it — don't — What's  the  use? 
There's   somebody   coming — don't   look   so —  ' 

Get  up  on  the  railing  again — 
Can't  you  seem  as  if  nothing  had  happened? 

I  never  saw  such  geese  as  men. 
Ah!  Charley,  you've  found  me!  a  galop? 

The  'Bahn  frei'?    Yes,  take  my  bouquet, 
And  my  fan  if  you  will,  now  I'm  ready — 

You'll  excuse  me,  of  course,  Mr.  Gray." 


212  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

One  day  I  received  a  letter  from  home,  saying 
that  my  father,  mother  and  sister  were  coming 
east  and  would  pay  me  a  visit.  I  wrote  at  once 
and  said  that  I  would  be  delighted  to  see  them 
any  time  after  the  fifteenth  of  July,  but  not  be- 
fore then,  as  I  would  be  too  busy  to  see  much  of 
them.  The  fact  was  I  would  not  get  out  of  con- 
finement before  the  fifteenth  of  July,  but  I  did  not 
tell  them.  They  came  the  latter  part  of  July,  and 
we  were  delighted  to  be  together  several  hours 
every  day  during  the  visit.  They  were  charmed 
with  the  beauty  of  the  place,  and  my  mother  said 
w^hen  I  returned  home  next  year  that  I  need  not 
take  my  trunk  in  the  back  yard  again  to  open  it, 
for  now  that  she  had  seen  what  a  sweet  and  clean 
place  West  Point  was  she  was  satisfied  there  w^ere 
no  bedbugs  there. 

There  is  a  good  deal  of  cactus,  of  the  prickly 
pear  variety,  growing  on  the  hills  about  the  Point, 
and  one  day  when  B — m's  father  and  mother  were 
there  from  Cincinnati  they  wanted  some  to  take 

home  with  them,  and  Mr.  B m  kindly  offered 

to  send  some  to  my  father,  if  I  wished  him  to.  Of 
course  I  wished  it.  I  expected  the  folks  at  home 
to  speak  about  receiving  the  cactus,  hence  I  did  not 
refer  to  it  for  a  long  time,  and  when  I  did  my 
mother  told  me  not  to  speak  of  it  to  my  father,  as 
he  w^as  very  angry  about  the  cactus.  It  appeared 
that  Mr.  B m  put  it  in  a  box  and  sent  it  pre- 
paid to  my  father,  and  as  he  supposed  that  I  had 
written  about  it,  he  did  not  write.      My   father 


THE    GRADUATE.  215 

opened  the  box  and  not  knowing  anything  about 
cactus,  he  took  it  cautiously  in  his  hands,  with 
the  natural  painful  results.  He  dropped  the  cac- 
tus, and,  as  luck  went,  he  rubbed  his  hands  on  his 
face  and  neck,  and  they  too  became  filled  with  the 
stickers. 

Just  across  the  south  line  of  cadet  limits  in  my 
day  was  Kinsley's  apple  orchard,  and  many  a  cadet 
run  it  there  for  apples.  One  day  Mr.  Kinsley,  him- 
self an  old  graduate  of  the  Academy,  caught  sev- 
eral cadets  in  his  orchard,  so  he  hitched  up  at  once 
and  drove  to  the  superintendent's  office  to  report 
the  case.  The  superintendent  said  that  if  Mr. 
Kinsley  could  identify  the  cadets  they  should  be 
punished;  he  said  he  could  identify  them.  So 
when  the  battalion  was  formed  Mr.  Kinsley  passed 
down  the  line,  but  failed  to  identify  them,  for  the 
reason,  he  said,  that  all  cadets  looked  alike. 

One  Saturday  afternoon  four  of  us  first  classmen 
stuffed  pillow  cases  in  the  breasts  of  our  coats  and 
deliberately  went  to  Kinsley's  for  apples,  and  we 
proposed  to  help  ourselves,  too.  Kinsley's  house  was 
in  one  corner  of  the  orchard  and  there  were  stone 
fences  around  and  through  the  center  of  the  or- 
chard. We  went  to  dijfferent  trees  and  found  all 
the  apples  we  wanted  on  the  ground,  so  we  set  to 
work  filling  our  pillow  cases.  B — y  filled  his,  set 
it  by  a  stone  fence  on  the  far  side  from  the  house, 
and  then  boldly  climbed  the  fence  and  ventured  to 
trees  nearer  to  the  house.  His  approach  made  the 
chickens  cackle  and  the  ducks  quack,  thus  attract- 


216  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

ing  a  lady's  attention.    She  came  out  of  the  house 

and  spoke  to  B j,  who  had  three  or  four  ajjples 

in  his  hands.  We  heard  their  voices  and  then 
emptied  most  of  our  apples  on  the  ground  and 
ran  away,  as  there  was  no  use  of  any  more  of  us 
getting  caught  than  necessary.  After  we  had  been 
back  in  barracks  awhile  we  went  over  to  see  how 
B ^y  had  gotten  away.  He  said  that  Mrs.  Kins- 
ley told  him  that  she  did  not  object  to  any  one  tak- 
ing two  or  three  apples  as  he  had  done,  but  that 
she  did  not  want  the  cadets  to  carry  them  olf  by 
the  bag  full.  She  then  asked  him  who  we  were, 
and  he  told  her  we  might  be  plebes,  as  older  cadets 
knew  better  than  to  do  such  a  thing.  We  asked 
him  what  he  did  with  his  pillow  case  of  apples, 
and  he  said:  "You  don't  suppose  I  had  the  cheek, 
after  my  narrow  escape,  to  bring  away  a  bag  full, 
do  you?"    Notwithstanding  this  statement,  and 

the  fact  that  B y  was  the  first  Captain  of  the 

Corps,  we  put  our  hands  up  into  his  chimney, 
moved  a  stick  and  down  fell  his  pillow  case  of 
apples. 

Along  in  December,  when  we  felt  confident  of 
graduating  the  next  June,  we  began  to  discuss 
what  we  would  adopt  as  our  "Class  Ring."  Jewel- 
ers in  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  other  cities, 
knowing  that  it  was  customary  for  each  class  at 
the  Point  to  adopt  a  certain  handsome  ring  as  its 
class  ring,  submitted  samples  to  us.  Upon  receiv- 
ing about  twenty  samples  we  held  class  meetings, 
and  after  much  discussion  part  of  the  class  want- 


I 


THE    GRADUATE.  219 

ed  to  adopt  one  of  the  designs  while  the  rest  want- 
ed to  adopt  another  one.  Finally  we  agreed  to 
abide  by  a  majority  vote,  but  when  the  ballots 
were  counted  there  was  a  tie.  Then  we  agreed  to 
take  two  pieces  of  paper  of  the  same  size,  and  to 
write  the  maker's  name  of  one  of  the  two  rings  on 
one  paper,  and  the  maker's  name  of  the  other  ring 
on  the  other  paper,  to  put  the  two  papers  in  a 
cap,  shake  them  up,  hold  the  cap  above  the  head, 
and  to  let  T r  draw  one  paper  which  should  de- 
cide the  case.  This  was  done  and  ratified ;  the  ring 
adopted  was  a  gold  ring  with  a  large  setting;  there 
were  thirteen  stars  around  the  setting,  and  on  one 
side  under  the  stars  there  was  an  eagle  with  one 
wing  spread;  on  the  other  side  under  the  stars 
was  a  helmet  on  crossed  rifles  with  the  last  two 
figures  of  the  year  of  our  graduation  in  the  lower 
angle  of  the  cross,  and  from  here  around  to  the 
eagle  was  a  chain.  It  was  agreed  that  each  mem- 
ber of  the  class  could  select  his  own  setting,  and 
some  selected  amethyst,  some  topaz  and  others 
blood-stone  or  onyx.  It  was  also  agreed  that  each 
member  could  use  his  pleasure  about  having  the 
"Class  Motto"  cut  into  the  setting.  A  Latin  motto 
was  suggested,  but  many  of  us  opposed  it,  because 
the  Academic  Board  had  not  made  Latin  a  part 
of  the  course  of  study  at  West  Point,  but  after 
much  deliberation,  my  class,  by  a  close  vote,  de- 
cided to  add  Latin  to  our  course,  and  that  "Omnia 
pro  Patria"  should  embody  the  entire  course  of 
.  Latin  for  our  class^  and  for  fear  that  we  might  for- 


220  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

get  it  we  adopted  it  as  the  motto  of  our  class.  We 
then  agreed  that  the  motto,  when  cut  in  the  set- 
ting of  the  class  ring,  should  be  put  on  a  ribbon, 
partially  enclosing  the  last  two  figures  of  our  grad- 
uating j^ear.  I  now  remember  my  Latin  course 
better  than  any  other  course  of  study,  for  I  have 
never  forgotten  that  "Omnia  pro  Patria'^  means 
"All  for  Country."  About  this  time  we  also  select- 
ed the  photographer  that  should  make  our  Class 
Albums,  but  left  it  to  each  member  to  make  his 
own  selection  of  pictures  for  it.  There  is  an  official 
photographer  now.  As  each  cadet  had  to  pay  for 
his  own  ring  and  album,  it  was  agreed  that  he 
could  buy  them  at  his  pleasure,  but  early  in  Janu- 
ary nearly  every  one  in  the  class  was  wearing  his 
class  ring  and  in  May  the  albums  began  to  arrive. 

One  day  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  a 
yearling  and  a  plebe  that  nothing  but  a  fight  could 
settle.  Seconds  and  a  referee  were  chosen,  and 
they  and  others  wishing  to  see  the  fight  repaired 
to  old  Fort  Clinton.  The  fight  was  begun  and  sev- 
eral rounds  fought,  when  one  of  those  present 
heard  footsteps,  and  peeping  through  the  brush 
he  saw  a  blue  uniform  and  gave  the  alarm.  A 
stampede  followed,  and  in  a  moment  the  whole 
party  scaled  the  parapet,  and  almost  tumbled  over 
one  another  in  their  mad  haste  down  toward  Flir- 
tation Walk,  where  trees  and  bushes  covered  their 
retreat.  The  referee  declared  the  fight  off.  The 
principals  respected  one  another's  fighting  quali- 
ties and  afterward  became  warm  friends.     The 


THE    GRADUATE.  221 

only  one  in  the  party  that  the  officer  recognized 

was  B p,  the  referee  and  a  captain  of  my  class, 

and  for  being  present  at  the  fight  he  was  reduced 
to  the  ranks. 

A  PERMIT  (OLD  FORM). 

West  Point,   March  — ,   18—. 

Cadet  ,  Private  Ist  Class  "B"  Co.,  has  permission  to 

get  a  drawing  table  from  the  Engineering  Drawing  Room  and 
keep  it  in  his  quarters  until  he  finishes  his  drawing  of  Noizet's 
Front,  having  been  in  the  hospital  and  excused  from  attending 
recitations  for  over  a  week,  he  was  not  able  to  complete  the 
drawing  in  the  Academy. 


Com'd'g  Co  "B." 
Respectfully  referred  to  the  Professor  of  Engineering, 
By  command  of 

Col. . 


Adjutant. 
Respectfully  returned  app'd, 


Prof,  of  Eng. 
Approved: 


Superintendent. 

In  January,  after  the  examinations  were  over, 
the  daily  papers  informed  us  that  the  Secretary  of 
War  had  written  to  the  Superintendent  saying 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  require  the  presence 
of  the  Corps  of  Cadets  in  Washington  on  March 
4th  next,  on  the  occasion  of  the  inauguration  of 
the  President-elect,  a  graduate  of  the  Academy. 


222  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

The  secretary  did  this  because  he  was  gratified 
by  the  conduct  and  marked  improvement  and  bear- 
ing of  the  young  gentlemen  at  the  Academy,  and 
he  believed  the  duties  which  a  trip  of  this  kind 
would  require  them  to  perform  would  be  a  relaxa- 
tion from  the  close  confinement  to  which  they  were 
subjected  at  the  Academy.  Furthermore,  he  de- 
sired to  show  the  people  gathered  at  the  Capitol 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  a  body  of  young  mili- 
tary men  which  he  believed  in  discipline,  drill  and 
orderly  appearance  and  the  qualities  that  make  a 
military  cadet  could  not  be  surpassed. 

In  due  time  the  necessary  orders  were  issued, 
and  with  knapsacks  on  our  backs  we  arrived  in 
Washington  on  the  3d  of  March.  We  were  quar- 
tered at  the  Ebbitt  House,  and  in  the  afternoon 
gave  a  drill  and  dress  parade  before  a  large  audi- 
ence in  front  of  the  Arlington.  In  the  evening  we 
were  given  the  freedom  of  the  city,  the  Delin- 
quency Book  having  been  left  at  the  Academy. 
On  the  4th  we  joined  the  procession  and  took  the 
post  of  honor  at  the  head  of  the  long  column.  We 
were  without  overcoats,  and  it  was  fearfully  cold, 
too.  Some  of  us  wore  double  suits  of  undercloth- 
ing, and  as  many  pairs  of  white  gloves  as  we  could 
and  hold  on  to  our  guns.  Bands  playing  (ours  at 
the  head,  too),  banners  and  flags  waving,  bright 
eyes  beaming  upon  us,  and  delicate  hands  applaud- 
ing us  as  we  marched  on  Pennsylvania  avenue, 
made  us  forget  all  about  overcoats.  We  stood  in 
front  of  General  Grant  while  the  oath  as  President 


A  (^NCERT 


BY    THE 

ORCHESTRAL    BAND 

WILL   BE    GIVEN    IN 

THE  LIBRARY, 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  27,  18—. 

COMMENCING  AT  7:30  O'CLOCK,  P.  M. 

PROGRAMME. 

(No.  7.) 

No.  1.  March,  Tannhauser Wagner 

2.  Ouverture,  Rui  Bias Mendelssohn 

3.  Reminiscences  of  Weber Godfrey 

4.  Reveille  Galop Rehm 

5.  Selection,  Moses  in  Egypt Rossini 

6.  Potpourri,  Musical  Tour  Through  Europe Conradi 

8.  Potpourri,  A  Musical  Joke Sass 


^'^ 


f'.. 


=/-^- 


^   ■    ft 'i^^^'^  lis 


^ 


■^^  ■  JiiL>-^^ 


^1.^^^' 


226  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

of  the  United  States  was  administered  to  him.  We 
then  marched  at  the  head  of  the  procession  along 
Pennsylvania  avenue  and  passed  General  Grant 
on  a  reviewing  stand  in  the  White  House  grounds, 
where  we  fell  out  of  the  column  and  saw  the  bal- 
ance of  the  procession  pass.  Next  to  the  cadets 
came  some  battalions  of  U.  S.  Artillery,  then  the 
midshipmen  from  Annapolis,  a  battalion  of  U.  S. 
Marines,  then  regiment  after  regiment  of  militia, 
then  ex-Presidents  and  Vice-Presidents,  the  U.  S. 
Supreme  Court,  U.  S.  Court  of  Claims,  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  U.  S.  Sena- 
tors and  Representatives,  Foreign  Ministers,  Pres- 
idential Electors  and  tens  of  thousands  more.  Of 
all  the  military  I  was  especially  pleased  to  see  the 
Second  Connecticut,  a  magnificent  body  of  well- 
drilled  men,  whose  lines  were  perfect  as  they 
passed  us,  and  extended  from  curb  to  curb. 

After  the  review  was  over  we  returned  to  the 
Ebbitt  House,  nearly  frozen,  but  we  "thawed  out" 
in  time  to  attend  the  inaugural  ball  in  the  evening, 
and  here  we  had  to  dance  or  freeze,  as  it  was  bitter 
cold  there.  The  decorations  were  beautiful.  There 
were  mottos  and  coats  of  arms  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  all  the  States  and  Territories  in  the 
Union,  shining  among  the  festoons  of  the  many 
flags  of  red,  white  and  blue;  then  there  were  flags 
and  coats  of  arms  of  many  foreign  nations.  Every- 
body at  this  grand  ball  had  to  present  a  ticket  of 
admission,  except  the  cadets  and  midshipmen, 
whose  uniforms  admitted  them. 


THE    GRADUATE.  227 

Upon  our  return  we  were  met  at  the  Battery  in 
New  York  by  the  famous  Seventh  (New  York) 
Regiment  and  escorted  to  its  armory  for  refresh- 
ments. The  march  up  Broadway  ivas  amid  a  con- 
tinuous line  of  spectators,  who  applauded  us  all 
the  way.  We  saw  the  regiment  as  it  passed  us  to 
take  post  as  our  escort,  and  we  were  charmed  with 
their  faultless  alignments  and  movements,  and 
w^ere  friends  at  once.  The  reception  was  highly 
appreciated  as  a  distinguishing  feature  of  our  trip. 
We  reached  West  Point  at  5  p.  m.  on  the  6th  of 
March,  and  as  we  marched  to  the  barracks  the 
band  played  "When  Johnnie  Comes  Marching 
Home  Again."  The  regular  routine  was  at  once 
resumed. 

In  speaking  of  our  drill  in  Washington  one  paper 
said:  "The  drill  of  the  W^est  Point  Cadets  on  Penn- 
sylvania avenue  was  certainly  splendid.  The 
whole  battalion  went  through  their  various  and 
intricate  maneuvers  with  such  precision  that  they 
even  surprised  some  of  the  military  officers  who, 
in  company  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  reviewed 
them.  The  sight  was  grand,  almost  beyond  de- 
scription. Thousands  of  persons  viewed  their 
drills  from  the  streets  and  indoors,  and  all  were  of 
the  opinion  expressed  above.  If  there  are  any  bet- 
ter drilled  organizations  let  them  come  along." 

After  the  January  examinations  were  over  first 
classmen  and  furloughmen  began  to  count  the  days 
until  the  first  of  June,  and  to  hold  meetings  of  re- 
joicing on  the  hundredth,  fiftieth  and  twenty-fifth 


228  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

nights.  On  the  hundredth  night  there  was  a  spe- 
cial program,  and  the  following  was  sung  on  that 
night: 

THE    HUNDREDTH    NIGHT. 

Come,  fellows,  listen  to  my  song, 
A  pleasant  tale  and  not  too  long. 
Of  scenes  familiar  to  each  one. 
Some  have  passed  and  some  will  come. 

The  hundredth  night  has  come  at  last. 
And  first-class  course  will  soon  be  past. 
Of  Cadet  gray  they'll  take  their  leave 
And  give  their  white  pants  to  their  plebe. 

It  really  makes  the  "immortals"  laugh. 
To  think  that  they'll  get  in  the  staff. 
When  asked  where  they  are  going  to  go, 
In  four  years  Engineers,  you  know. 

When  one  more  week  has  had  its  run. 
The  Corps  will  start  for  Washington. 
Clean  candle  boxes  will  be  worn. 
On  us,  militia  will  look  with  scorn. 

To  drink  will  be  the  greatest  crime. 
The  corps  will  drill  by  band  clock-time. 
Old  Emory  will  march  in  grand  state 
And  Murray  behind  will  get  a  late. 

Now,  second  classmen,  don't  be  glum, 
First-class  camp  quite  soon  will  come. 
And  then  you  bet  you'll  cut  a  swell, 
And  spooney  "femmes"  at  the  hotel. 

Oh !   furlough  is  a  very  good  thing. 
You  wear  Cit  clothes  and  have  your  fling. 
The  Cit  you  stuff  with  famous  lies, 
And  if  he  doubts,  you  punch  his  eyes. 


J  HANSELL  FRENCH 


J. HANSELL  FRENCH 
WH. WHEELER 
LOUIS  A    CRAIG 


—     FROM      — 

PLEASURE  OF  YOUR  <?OMPANY  IS 
REOUESTED  AT  THE  FAREWELL  H#P 

GIVEN  TO  THE  GI^ADUATIN^  GLASS 

BY  THE  GLASS  OF    — '■^•■ 

FLOOR 

LUTHER  R.  HARE  WILLIS  WITTICH. 

C  E.SCOTT  WOOD  WlLLIS  WITTICH. 

EDGAR  B  ROBERTSON  JAS  .  L  .WILSON  . 

LOTUS   NILES  LUTHER  R. HARE  . 


229 


THE    GRADUATE.  231 

Plebeistic  youth,  lift  up  your  head, 
Your  yearling  path  you  soon  will  tread. 
Corporal  chevrons  will  grace  your  arm, 
Which  fills  the  beasts  with  much  alarm. 

And  now  we've  done  our  level  best, 
I've  sung  this  song  by  request. 
If  you  don't  like  it  'tis  not  a  sin. 
To  say  you  think  it  rather  thin. 

As  our  days  to  wear  cadet  gray  could  now  be 
counted  by  two  figures,  for  the  second  and  last 
time  at  the  Academy,  we  selected  clothes  for  "Cit" 
suits,  and  as  we  had  all  decided  to  enter  the 
army  as  "Second  Lieutenants,"  we  also  selected 
uniforms  and  accoutrements  for  ourselves  as  offi- 
cers of  that  high  rank.  Military  goods  dealers  and 
tailors  were  frequent  visitors  at  the  Point  on  Sat- 
urday afternoons,  each  claiming  to  give  the  most 
for  the  least  money.  We  had  great  trouble  about 
the  stripes  on  the  pants,  the  color  of  the  cloth  in 
the  shoulder  knots  and  straps,  the  head  gear,  etc., 
because  all  did  not  know  for  certain  what  arm  of 
service  they  would  be  assigned  to,  and  those  things 
are  different  for  each  arm.  The  result  was  that 
some  gave  conditional  orders,  while  others  guessed 
at  it  and  ordered  all  or  a  part  of  their  outfits.  On 
the  first  of  June  our  new  clothes  began  to  arrive, 
and  we  were  permitted  to  have  trunks  in  our  rooms 
and  from  that  day  we  began  to  feel  that  our  cadet 
days  were  gone.  And  it  was  practically  so,  too, 
for  even  the  ladies  who  came  up  in  June  began  to 
show  preferences  for  the  coming  first  classmen, 


232  CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

except,  of  course,  where  friendships  were  strong. 

Occasionally  cadets  were  invited  to  dine  at  some 

of  the  professor's  quarters,  but  even  then  we  were 

required  to  get  a  permit  before  we  could  accept 

invitations.     General  IT n,  the  Commandant, 

made  it  a  rule  to  invite  all  of  the  members  of  the 
first  class  (a  few  at  a  time)  to  dine  at  his  quarters, 
as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  invitation,  to- 
wit: 

"The  Comd't  of  Cadets  will  be  pleased  to  see  Cadets  London, 
O'Connor,  Paddock  and  Reed,  H.  T.,  at  tea  this  evening  after 
parade  till  8:30  p.  m. 

"June  — ,  18 — ." 

As  every  cadet  who  graduates  at  the  Military 
Academy  may  at  his  option  enter  the  army  as  a 
Second  Lieutenant,  he  can  choose  his  corps  or  arm 
of  the  service  in  accordance  with  his  class  stand- 
ing, and  after  the  first  of  June  he  makes  applica- 
tion substantially  as  follows: 

'"United  States  Military  Academy, 
West  Point,  N.  T. 

June  — ,  18 — . 
The  Adjutant  General, 
U.  S.  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  apply  for  a  commission  as  2nd 
Lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Army  in  the  Arm  ^nd  Regiments  as 

follows: .    My  address  for 

the  ensuing  month  will  be — • 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 


Graduated  Cadet,  U.  S.  M.  A." 


THE    GRADUATE.  235 

The  "diploma"  given  to  graduates  is  reproduced 
on  another  page,  and  the  following  is  the  wording 
on  it,  to- wit: 

"UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  ACADEMY. 

Be  it  known  that  Cadet  of  the  State  of  , 

having  been  carefully  examined  on  all  of  the  branches  of  the 
Arts,  Science  and  of  Literature  taught  at  the  United  States 
Military  Academy,  has  been  judged  worthy  to  receive  the 
degree  required  by  law,  preparatory  to  his  advancement  in  the 
U.  S.  Army. 

In  testimony  whereof,  and  by  virtue  of  authority  vested  in 
the  Academic  Staff,  we  do  confer  upon  him  this  Diploma,  and 
recommend  him  to  the  President  for  promotion  in . 

Given  at  West  Point  in  the  State  of  New  York,  -this  —  day 

of ,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 

and  ." 

It  is  signed  by  the  members  of  the  Academic 
Board  in  the  order  of  their  rank,  and  entered  in 
the  "Register  of  Graduates"  that  is  kept  at  the 
Academy. 

On  the  first  of  June  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  Board  of  Visitors  and  others  arrived, 
especially  to  witness  the  examinations  of  the  grad- 
uating class.  The  usual  salute,  review,  drills,  fire- 
works and  hop  were  on  the  program.  All  the 
members  of  my  class,  after  having  spent  four  years 
at  the  Academy,  fully  expected  to  graduate,  but 
one  of  the  number  was  found  deficient  and  dis- 
charged on  the  last  day.  The  weather  on  gradu- 
ating day  was  perfect,  and  at  the  appointed  hour 
my  class  w^as  escorted  by  the  Corps  of  Cadets  to  the 


236  CADET    LIFE   AT   WEST    POINT. 

grove  in  front  of  the  Library,  where  a  stand  had 
been  erected  for  the  President,  Secretary  of  War, 
Board  of  Visitors  and  invited  guests. 

While  we  were  under  the  big  elm  trees,  sur- 
rounded by  our  schoolmates,  professors,  instruc- 
tors and  the  many  others,  listening  to  the  Chap- 
lain's prayer,  to  the  sweet  music  of  the  band  we 
loved  so  well,  and  to  the  address  of  the  Secretary 
of  War,  and  receiving  diplomas  from  the  Presi- 
dent's hand,  many  thoughts  flashed  through  my 
mind.  It  seemed  like  a  dream.  I  thought  of  home, 
of  my  life  since  leaving  it,  and  of  the  future,  won- 
dering what  it  had  in  store  for  me.  My  cadet  life 
had  been  all  and  more  than  I  had  anticipated  it  to 
be,  not  a  care  and  no  one  but  self  to  think  of  for 
four  years,  with  good  food  and  clothing  in  plenty, 
kind  friends  and  just  teachers,  cheerful  surround- 
ings and  the  most  beautiful  spot  on  earth,  I  was 
loath  to  say  good-bye  to  my  Cadet  Home. 

My  heart  is  in  the  Highlands,  shades 

Of  night  are  on  my  brow; 
Ye  pleasant  haunts  and  quiet  glades, 

My  soul  is  with  you  now. 


CHAPTER  X. 


APPENDIX. 

Appointments,  f 

How  Made. — Each  Congressional  District  and  Territory — also  the 
District  of  Columbia — is  entitled  to  have  one  cadet  at  the  academy. 
Ten  are  also  appointed  at  large.  The  appointments  {except  those  at 
large)  are  made  by  the  Secretary  of  War  at  the  request  of  the  repre- 
sentative, or  delegrate.  in  Congress  from  the  district  or  territory;  and 
the  person  appointed  must  be  an  actual  resident  of  the  district  or  ter- 
ritory from  which  the  appointment  is  made.  The  appointments  at 
large  are  specially  conferred  by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

Manner  of  Making  Appointments. — Applications  can  be  made  at 
any  time,  by  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  have  the  name  of 
the  applicant  placed  upon  the  register  that  it  may  be  furnished  to  the 
proper  representative,  or  delegate,  when  a  vacancy  occurs.  The 
application  must  exhibit  the  full  name,  date  of  birth,  and  permanent 
abode  of  the  applicant,  with  th'i  number  of  the  congressional  district 
in  which  his  residence  is  situated. 

Date  of  Appointments. — Appointments  are  required  by  law  to  be 
made  one  year  in  advance  of  the  date  of  admission,  except  in 
cases  where,  by  reason  of  death  or  other  cause,  a  vacancy  occurs 
which  cannot  be  provided  for  by  such  appointment  in  advance. 
These  vacancies  are  filled  in  time  for  the  next  annual  examination. 

Alternates. — The  representative,  or  delegate,  in  Congress  may 
nominate  a  legally  qualified  second  candidate  to  be  designated  the 
alternate.  The  alternate  will  receive  from  the  War  Department  a 
letter  of  appointment,  and  will  be  exam'ned  with  the  regular  appointee, 
and  if  duly  qualified  will  be  admitted  to  the  academy  in  the  event  of 
the  failure  of  the  principal  to  pass  the  prescribed  preliminary 
examinations.  The  alternate  will  not  be  allowed  to  defer  his  report- 
ing at  the  place  stated  till  the  result  of  the  examination  of  the  regular 
appointee  is  known,  but  must  report  at  the  time  designated  in  his 

fRevised  to  June  i,  1896. 


ii  CADET  LItE  AT  WEST  POINT. 

letter  of  appointment.  The  alternate,  like  the  nominee,  should  be  desig- 
nated as  nearly  one  year  in  advance  of  date  of  admission  as  possible.* 

ADMISSION    OF    CADETS. 

Candidates  selected  by  the  War  Department  shall  be  instructed  to 
appear  for  mental  and  physical  examination,  before  Boards  of  Army 
Officers  to  be  convened  at  such  places  as  the  War  Department  may 
select,  on  the  ist  day  of  March  annually  (except  when  that  day  comes 
on  Sunday,  in  which  case  the  examination  will  commence  on  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday).  The  candidates  who  pass  successfully  shall  be 
admitted  to  the  Academy  in  the  following  June. 

Candidates  selected  to  fill  the  vacancies  unprovided  for  at  the 
examinations  held  in  March,  shall  be  instructed  to  report  at  West 
Point  for  mental  and  physical  examination  early  in  June.  No  can- 
didate shall  be  examined  at  any  other  time,  unless  prevented  from 
presenting  himself  by  sickness,  or  some  other  unavoidable  cause,  in 
which  case  he  shall  be  examined  during  the  last  week  in  August. 

Immediately  after  reporting  to  the  Adjutant  for  admission, 
and  before  receiving  his  warrant  of  appointment,  the  candidate  is 
required  to  sign  an  engagement  for  service  in  the  following  form,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Superintendent,  or  of  some  officer  deputed  by  him: 

"I, of  the  State  (or  Territory)  of aged  ....  years 

and  ....  months,  do  hereby  engage  (with  the  consent  of  my  parent  or 
guardian)  that  from  the  date  of  my  admission  as  a  Cadet  of  the  United 
States  Military  Academy,  I  will  serve  in  the  Army  of  the  United 
States  for  eight  years,  unless  sooner  discharged  by  competent 
authority." 

In  the  presence  of 


The  candidate  is  then  required  to  take  and  subscribe  an  oath  or 
affirmation  in  the  following  form: 

"I, do  solemnly  swear  that  I  will  support  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  and  bear  true  allegiance  to  the  National 
Government;  that  I  will  maintain  the  sovereignty  of  the  United 
States,  paramount  to  any  and  all  allegiance,  sovereignty,  or  fealty 
I  may  owe  to  any  State  or  Country  whatsoever;  and  that  I  will  at  all 
times  obey  the  legal  orders  of  my  superior  officers,  and  the  rules  and 
articles  governing  the  Armies  of  the  United  States." 


Sworn  and  subscribed,  at ,  this. . .  .day  of. 

eighteen  hundred  and before  me. 


♦Alternates  have  been  appointed  every  year  since  1877. 


APPENDIX.  iii 

Qualifications. — The  age  for  the  admission  of  cadets  to  the  Acad- 
emy is  between  seventeen  and  twenty-two  years.  Candidates  must  be 
unmarried,  at  least  five  feet  in  height,  free  from  any  infectious  or  im- 
moral disorder,  and  generally  from  any  deformity,  disease,  or  infirm- 
ity which  may  render  them  unfit  for  military  service.  They  must  be 
well  versed  in  reading,  in  writing  including  orthography,  in  arithme-* 
tic,  and  have  a  knowledge  of  the  elements  of  English  grammar,  of 
descriptive  geography  (particularly  of  our  own  country)  and  of  the 
history  of  the  United  States. 

Character  of  Examinations.* 

physical  examiifation. 

Every  candidate  is  subjected  to  a  rigid  physical  examination,  and 
if  there  is  found  to  exist  in  him  any  of  the  following  causes  of  dis- 
qualification to  such  a  degree  as  would  immediately  or  at  no  very 
distant  period  impair  his  efiiciency,  he  is  rejected. 

1.  Feeble  condition  and  unsound  health  from  whatever  cause; 
indications  of  former  disease;  glandular  swellings,  or  other  symptoms 
of  scrofula. 

2.  Chronic  cutaneous  affections,  especially  of  the  scalp. 

3.  Severe  injuries  of  the  bones  of  the  head;  convulsions. 


*It  is  suggested  to  all  candidates  for  admission  to  the  Military 
Academy  that,  before  leaving  their  residence  for  the  place  designated, 
they  should  cause  themselves  to  be  thoroughly  examined  by  a  compe- 
tent physician,  and  by  a  teacher  or  instructor  in  good  standing.  By 
such  an  examination  any  serious  disqualification  or  deficiency  in  men- 
tal preparation  would  be  revealed,  and  the  candidate  probably  spared 
the  expense  and  trouble  of  a  useless  journey  and  the  mortification  of 
rejection. 

It  should  be  understood  that  the  informal  examination  herein  rec- 
ommended is  solely  for  the  convenience  and  benefit  of  the  candidate 
himself,  and  can  in  no  manner  affect  the  decision  of  the  official 
Examining  Boards. 

Note. — There  being  no  provision  whatever  for  the  payment  of  the 
traveling  expenses  of  either  accepted  or  rejected  candidates  for  admis- 
sion, no  candidate  should  fail  to  provide  himself  in  advance  with  the 
means  of  returning  to  his  home,  in  case  of  his  rejection  before  either 
of  the  Examining  Boards,  as  he  may  otherwise  be  put  to  considerable 
trouble,  inconvenience,  and  even  suffering  on  account  of  his  destitute 
condition.  If  admitted,  the  money  brought  by  him  to  meet  such  a 
contingency  can  be  deposited  with  the  treasurer  on  account  of  his 
equipment  as  a  cadet,  or  returned  to  his  friends. 


iv  CADET  LIFE  AT   WEST  POINT. 

4.  Impaired  vision,  from  whatever  cause;  inflammatory  affec- 
tions of  the  eyelids;  immobility  or  irregularity  of  the  iris;  fistula 
lachrymalis,  etc.,  etc. 

5.  Deafness;  copious  discharge  from  the  ears. 

§.     Loss  of  many  teeth,  or  the  teeth  generally  unsotmd. 

7.  Impediment  of  speech. 

8.  Want  of  due  capacity  of  the  chest,  and  any  other  indication 
of  a  liability  to  a  pulmonary  disease. 

9.  Impaired  or  inadequate  efi&ciency  of  one  or  both  of  the  supe- 
rior extremities  on  account  of  fractures,  especially  of  the  clavicle, 
contraction  of  a  joint,  deformity,  etc. ,  etc. 

10.  An  unusual  excurvature  or  incurvature  of  the  spine. 

11.  Hernia. 

12.  A  varicose  state  of  the  veins  of  the  scrotum  or  the  spermatic 
cord  (when  large),  hydrocele,  hemorrhoids,  fistulas. 

13.  Impaired  or  inadequate  efficiency  of  one  or  both  of  the  infer- 
ior extremities  on  account  of  varicose  veins,  fractures,  malformations 
(flat  feet,  etc.),  lameness,  contraction,  unequal  length,  bunions,  over- 
lying or  supemumary  toes,  etc. 

14.  Ulcers  or  unsound  cicatrices  of  ulcers  likely  to  break  out 
afresh. 

ACADEMICAL  EXAMINATION. 

Reading. — In  Reading,  candidates  must  be  able  to  read  under- 
standingly,  and  with  proper  accent  and  emphasis. 

Writing  and  Orthography. — In  Writing  and  Orthography,  they 
must  be  able,  from  dictation,  to  write  sentences  from  standard  pieces 
of  English  literature,  both  prose  and  poetry,  sufficient  in  number  to 
test  their  qualifications  both  in  handwriting  and  orthography.  They 
must  also  be  able  to  write  and  spell  correctly  from  dictation,  a  certain 
number  of  standard  test  words. 

Arithmetic. — In  Arithmetic;  they  must  be  able — 

ist.  To  explain, , accurately  and  clearly,  its  objects  and  the  man- 
ner of  writing  and  reading  numbers — entire,  fractional,  compound  or 
denominate. 

2d.  To  perform  with  facility  and  accuracy  the  various  operations 
of  addition,  subtraction,  multiplication  and  division  of  whole  num- 
bers, abstract,  compound  or  denominate,  giving  the  rule  for  each 
operation,  with  its  reasons,  and  also  for  the  different  methods  of  prov- 
ing the  accuracy  of  the  work. 

3d.     To  explain  fhe  meaning  of  reduction — its  different  kinds^- 


APPENDIX.  V 

its  application  to  denominate  numbers  in  reducing  them  from  a  higher 
to  a  lower  denomination  and  the  reverse,  and  to  equivalent  decimals, 
to  give  the  rule  for  each  case,  and  to  apply  readily  these  rules  to  prac- 
tical examples  of  each  kind. 

4th.  To  explain  the  nature  of  prime  numbers,  and  factors  of  a 
number — of  a  common  divisor  of  two  or  more  numbers,  particularly 
of  their  greatest  common  divisor — with  its  use,  and  to  give  the  rule; 
with  its  reasons,  for  obtaining  it,  also  the  meaning  of  a  common  mul- 
tiple of  several  numbers,  particularly  of  their  least  common  multiple 
and  its  use,  and  to  give  the  rule,  with  its  reasons,  for  obtaining  it 
and  to  apply  each  of  these  rules  to  examples. 

5th.  To  explain  the  nature  of  fractions,  common  or  vulgar,  and 
decimal — to  define  the  various  kinds  effractions,  with  the  distinguish- 
ing properties  of  each — to  give  all  the  rules  for  their  reduction;  par- 
ticularly from  mixed  to  improper  and  the  reverse — from  compound  or 
complex  to  simple — to  their  lowest  terms — to  a  common  denominator 
— from  common  to  decimal  and  the  reverse;  for  their  addition,  sub- 
traction, multiplication  and  division,  with  the  reason  for  each  change 
of  rule,  and  to  apply  each  rule  to  examples. 

6th.  To  define  the  terms  ratio  and  proportion — to  give  the  prop- 
erties of  proportion  and  the  rules  and  their  reasons  for  stating  and 
solving  questions  in  both  simple  and  compound  proportion,  or  single 
and  double  rule  of  three,  and  to  apply  each  rule  to  examples. 

7th.  The  candidates  must  not  only  know  the  principles  and  rules 
referred  to  above,  but  they  are  required  to  possess  such  a  thorough 
understanding  of  all  the  fundamental  operations  of  arithmetic  as  will 
enable  them  to  combine  the  various  principles  in  the  solution  of  any 
complex  problem  which  can  be  solved  by  the  methods  of  arithmetic. 
In  other  words,  they  must  possess  such  a  complete  knowledge  of 
arithmetic  as  will  enable  them  to  take  up  at  once  the  higher  branches 
of  mathematics  without  further  study  of  arithmetic. 

8th.  It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  examination  in  these  branches 
may  be  either  written  or  oral,  or  partly  written  and  partly  oral — that 
the  definitions  and  rules  must  be  given  fully  and  accurately,  and  that 
the  work  of  all  examples,  whether  upon  the  blackboard,  slate  or  paper, 
must  be  written  plainly  and  in  full,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  show 
clearly  the  mode  of  solution. 

The  following  examples  and  questions  in  Arithmetic  are  a  few  of 
those  which  have  been  used  at  past  examinations.  They  are 
given  in   order   to  indicate  more  clearly   what   is   required,    but  it 


vi  CADET   LIFE   AT   WEST   POINT. 

should  be  distinctly  understood  that  entirely  different  ones  are  used 
each  year. 

Multiply  4.32  by  .00012. 

Explain  the  reason  for  placing  the  decimal  point  in  the  answer. 
[The  rule  for  so  doing  is  not  the  reason.] 

Reduce ^ to  an  equivalent  decimal. 

Divide  3380321  by  MDCCXCIX,  and  express  the  quotient  by 
the  Roman  system  of  notation. 

Change  .013  to  an  equivalent  fraction  whose  denominator  is  135. 

Find  the  greatest  common  divisor  of  26 j^,  28%,  and  29^/^. 

How  many  men  would  be  required  to  cultivate  a  field  of  2)^  acres  in 
5}i  days  of  10  hours  each,  if  each  man  completed  77  yards  in  9  hours? 

Separate  772%  into  three  numbers,  which  shall  be  in  the  same 
proportion  as  2}4,  \Ti,  i%- 

5  cubic  feet  of  gold  weigh  98.20  times  as  much  as  a  cubic  foot  of 
water;  and  2  cubic  feet  of  copper  weigh  18  times  as  much  as  a  cubic 
foot  of  water;  how  many  cubic  inches  of  copper  will  weigh  as  much 
as  I  of  a  cubic  inch  of  gold? 

Find  the  least  common  multiple  for  the  numbers  ^,  2,1,  5.25,  ^. 
A  wins  9  games  out  of  15  when  playing  against  B,  and  16  out  of  25 
when  playing  against  C.     How  many  games  out  of  118  should  C  win 
when  playing  against  B? 

A  and  B  run  a  race,  their  rates  of  running  being  as  17  to  18.  A 
runs  2^/3  miles  in  16  minutes  and  48  seconds,  and  B  runs  the  entire 
distance  in  34  minutes.     What  was  the  entire  distance? 

A  and  B  can  do  a  piece  of  work  in  4  hours,  A  and  C  in  3I  hours, 
B  and  C  in  5^  hours.     In  what  time  can  A  do  it  alone? 

English  shillings  are  coined  from  a  metal  which  contains  37  parts 
of  silver  to  3  parts  of  alloy:  one  pound  of  this  metal  is  coined  into 
66  shillings.  The  United  States  silver  dollar  weighs  412.5  grains, 
and  consists  of  9  parts  of  silver  to  i  part  of  alloy.  What  fraction  of 
the  U.  S.  dollar  will  contain  the  same  amount  of  silver  as  i  English 
shilling? 

Give  the  rules  for  reducing  a  decimal  of  a  given  denomination  to 
integers  of  lower  denomination. 

What  is  the  effect  of  dividing  the  denominator  of  a  fraction  by  a 
whole' number,  and  why? 


APPENDIX.  vii 

Explain  the  difference  between  a  common  fraction  and  a  decimal. 

What  is  the  effect  of  annexing  a  cipher  to  a  decimal,  and  why? 

If  the  same  number  be  subtracted  from  both  terms  of  an  improper 
fraction,  what  will  be  the  effect?     Why. 

Give  the  rule  for  reducing  a  common  fraction  to  an  equivalent 
decimal,  and  explain  why  the  resulting  fraction  will  be  equal  to  the 
common  fraction  from  which  it  is  obtained. 

Give  the  rule  for  dividing  one  decimal  by  another,  and  explain 
why  the  decimal  point  in  the  quotient  is  placed  where  the  rule  directs. 

Define  Reduction,  and  state  the  different  kinds. 

Grammar. — In  English  Grammar,  the  candidates  must  be  able — 

1st.  To  define  the  parts  of  speech,  and  give  their  classes  and 
properties;  to  give  inflections,  including  declension,  conjugation  and 
comparison;  to  give  the  corresponding  masculine  and  feminine  gender 
nouns;  to  give  and  apply  the  ordinary  rules  of  syntax. 

2d.  To  parse  fully  and  correctly  any  ordinary  sentence,  omitting 
rules,  declensions,  comparisons  and  principal  parts,  but  giving  the 
subject  of  each  verb,  the  governing  word  of  each  objective  case,  the 
word  for  which  each  pronoun  stands  or  to  which  it  refers,  the  words 
between  which  each  preposition  shows  the  relation,  precisely  what 
each  conjunction  connects,  what  each  adjective  and  adverb  qualifies 
or  limits  the  construction  of  each  infinitive,  and,  generally,  showing  a 
good  knowledge  of  the  function  of  each  word  in  the  sentence.  Omis- 
sions will  be  taken  to  indicate  ignorance. 

3d.  To  correct  in  sentences  or  extracts  any  ordinary  grammatical 
errors  such  as  are  mentioned  and  explained  in  orninary  grammars. 

It  is  not  required  that  any  particular  grammarian  or  text-book 
shall  be  followed;  but  rules,  definitions,  parsing  and  corrections  must 
be  in  accordance  with  common  usage  and  good  sense.  The  examina- 
tion may  be  written  or  oral,  or  both  written  and  oral. 

Geography. — Candidates  will  be  required  to  pass  a  satisfactory 
examination,  written  or  oral,  or  both,  in  Geography,  particularly  of 
our  own  country.  To  give  a  candidate  a  clear  idea  of  what  is  required, 
the  following  synopsis  is  added  to  show  the  character  and  extent  of 
the  examination.  Questions  are  likely  to  be  asked  involving  knowl- 
edge of: 

ist.  Definitions  of  the  geographical  circles,  of  latitude,  and  longi- 
tude, of  zones  and  of  all  the  natural  divisions  of  the  earth's  surface, 
as  islands,  seas,  capes,  etc. 


viii  CADET   LIFE   AT   WEST   POfNT. 

2d.  The  continental  areas  and  grand  divisions  of  the  water  of 
the  earth's  surface. 

3d.  The  grand  divisions  of  the  land — the  large  bodies  of  water 
which  in  part  or  wholly  surround  them. 

Their  principal  mountains,  location,  direction,  and  extent,  the 
capes  from  what  parts  they  project  and  into  what  parts? 

Their  principal  peninsulas,  location,  and  by  what  waters  they  are 
embraced? 

The  parts  connected  by  peninsulas,  if  any. 

Their  principal  islands,  location  and  surrounding  waters. 

The  seas,  gulfs,  and  bays,  the  coasts  they  indent,  and  the  waters 
to  which  they  are  subordinate. 

The  straits,  the  lands  they  separate,  and  the  waters  they  connect. 

Their  principal  rivers,  their  sources, 'direction  of  flow,  and  the 
waters  into  which  they  empty. 

Their  principal  lakes,  location  and  extent. 

4th.     The  political  divisions  of  the  grand  divisions. 

Their  names,  locations,  boundaries,  and  capitals;  general  questions 
of  the  same  character  as  indicated  in  the  second  section;  made  appli- 
cable to  each  of  the  countries  of  each  of  the  grand  divisions. 

5th.     The  United  States. 

The  candidate  should  be  thoroughly  informed  as  to  its  general  fea- 
tures, configuration,  location,  and  boundaries  (both  with  respect  to 
neighboring  countries  and  latitude  and  lognitude);  its  adjacent  oceans, 
seas,  bays,  gulfs,  sounds,  straits,  and  islands;  its  mountain  ranges, 
their  location  and  extent;  the  sources,  directions,  and  terminations  of 
the  important  rivers  and  their  principal  tributaries;  the  lakes,  and,  in 
short,  every  geographical  feature  of  the  country  as  indicated  above. 
The  location  and  termination  of  important  railroad  lines  and  other 
means  of  communication  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another  should 
not  be  omitted. 

The  States  and  Territories  are  to  be  accurately  located  with 
respect  to  each  other  by  their  boundaries,  and  as  to  their  order  along 
the  Atlantic  Coast,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  Northern 
frontier,  the  Mexican  frontier,  and  the  Mississippi,  Missouri  and 
Ohio  Rivers. 

The  boundary  and  other  large  rivers  of  each  State,  as  well  as  all 
other  prominent  geographical  features  should  be  known. 

The   names  and  locations  of   their  capitals,  and   other  important 
pities  are  likewise  to  be  known. 


APPENDIX.  ix 

In  short,  the  knowledge  should  be  so  complete  that  a  clear  mental 
picture  of  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  United  States  is  impressed  on  the 
mind  of  the  candidate.  More  weight  is  attached  to  a  knowledge  of 
the  geography  of  the  United  States  than  to  that  of  all  other  countries 
combined. 

History. — The  candidate  should  make  himself  familiar  with  so 
much  of  the  History  of  the  United  States  as  is  contained  in  the  ordi- 
nary school  histories.  The  examination  may  be  written  or  oral,  or 
partly  written  and  partly  oral,  and  will  usually  consist  of  a  series  of 
questions  similar  to  the  following: 

I.  Name  the  earliest  European  settlements  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  United  States — when,  where  and  by  whom  made?  When 
did  the  settlements  made  by  other  nations  than  the  English  come 
under  the  dominion  of  Great  Britian,  and  of  the  United  States? 

II.  What  was  the  difference  between  the  Royal,  the  Chartered 
and  the  Proprietary  colonies?  How  many  colonies  were  there  origi- 
nally in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut?  When  were  they  united? 
How  many  in  Pennsylvania?     When  were  they  separated? 

III.  In  what  wars  were  the  colonies  engaged  before  the  Revolu- 
tion? What  were  the  principal  events  and  results  of  those  of  King 
William,  Queen  Anne,  King  George  and  the  French  and  Indian? 

IV.  What  were  the  remote  and  the  immediate  causes  of  the 
American  Revolution?  Explain  the  Navigation  Act,  Stamp  Act, 
Writs  of  Assistance.  When  did  the  War  of  the  Revolution  properly 
begin?  When,  where  and  how  did  it  end?  Give  the  particulars 
of  Arnold's  treason?  Who  were  the  most  prominent  generals  in  this 
war?     Name  the  most  important  battles  and  their  results. 

V.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States — why  and  when  was  it 
formed?     When  was  it  adopted? 

VI.  Give  the  names  of  the  Presidents  of  the  United  States  in 
their  order.  Give  the  leading  events  of  the  administration  of  each 
one;  for  example,  that  of — 

Washington. — Indian  War;  trouble  with  France;  Jay's  treaty; 
the  whisky  rebellion,  etc. 

Jefferson. — War  with  Tripoli;  purchase  of  Louisiana;  the  em- 
bargo, etc. 

Madison. — War  of  1812;  its  causes;  the  principal  battles  on  land 
and  sea;  peculiarity  of  the  last  battle;  when  ended,  etc. 

Monroe. — Indian  War;  cession  of  Florida,  Missouri  Compro- 
mise, etc. 


X  CADET   LIFE   AT   WEST   POINT. 

Jackson. — Black  Hawk  and  Seminole  wars;  the  United  States 
Bank, ;  nulHcation,  etc. 

Polk — The  Mexican  War;  its  causes;  principal  battles;  results 
of  it,  etc 

Pierce. — Repeal  of  Missouri  Compromise;  troubles  in  Kansas,  etc. 

Buchanan  — Civil  War;  how  begun,  etc. 

Lincoln. — War  of  the  Rebellion;  its  causes;  its  results,  social  and 
political;  explain  doctrine  of  State  Sovereignty;  alienation  between 
Northern  and  Southern  States;  doctrine  of  secession;  give  an  account 
of  principal  battles. 

Johnson. — Fourteenth  Amendment;  Tenure  of  Office  Bill;  John- 
son's Impeachment. 

Grant. — Fifteenth  Amendment;  Alabama  Claims  and  Treaty  of 
Washington;  Electoral  Commission. 

Academic  Duties. 

The  academic  duties  and  exerciges  commence  on  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember and  continue  until  the  first  of  June.  Examinations  of  the  sev- 
eral classes  are  held  in  January  and  June,  and,  at  the  former,  such  of 
the  new  cadets  as  are  found  proficient  in  studies  and  have  been  cor- 
rect in  conduct  are  given  the  particular  standing  in  their  class  to 
which  their  merits  entitle  them.  After  each  examination,  cadets 
found  deficient  in  conduct  or  studies  are  discharged  from  the  Acad- 
emy, unless  the  Academic  Board  for  special  reasons  in  each  case 
should  otherwise  recommend.  Similar  examinations  are  held  every 
January  and  June  during  the  four  years  comprising  the  course  of 
studies 

These  examinations  are  very  thorough,  and  require  from  the  cadet 
a  close  and  persevering  attention  to  study,  without  evasion  or  slightiug 
of  any  part  of  the  course,  as  no  relaxation  of  any  kind  can  be  made  by 
the  examiners. 

Military  Instruction. — From  the  termination  of  the  examination  in 
June  to  the  end  of  August  the  cadets  live  in  camp,  engaged  only 
in  military  duties  and  exercises  and  receiving  practical  military 
instruction. 

Except  in  extreme  cases,  cadets  are  allowed  but  one  leave  of 
absence  during  the  four  years'  course;  as  a  rule  the  leave  is  granted 
at  the  end  of  the  first  two  years'  course  of  study. 


APPENDIX. 


Pay  of  Cadets. 


The  pay  of  a  cadet  is  $540  per  year,  to  commence  with  his 
admission  to  the  Academy,  and  is  sufiScient,  with  proper  economy, 
for  his  support.  ,No  cadet  is  permitted  to  receive  money,  or  any 
other  supplies,  from  his  parents,  or  from  any  person  whomsoever, 
without  the  sanction  of  the  Superintendent. 

Each  cadet  must  keep  himself  supplied  with  the  following  men- 
tioned articles,  viz. : 

Two  pairs  of  uniform  shoes;  *one  pair  of  overshoes  (Arctic);  *six 
towels,  face;  *two  towels,  bathing;  one  mattress;  one  pillow;  *two 
pillow-cases  35-in.  by  45-in. ;  *four  sheets  10/4  by  6/4;  *two  blankets 
(white);  *one  comfortable  or  quilted  bed  cover;  one  wash  bowl;  *one 
bottle  of  indelible  ink;  *one  clothes  brush  or  whisk  broom;  *one  hair- 
brush; *one  tooth-brush;  *one  nail-brush;  *one  shaving-brush  and 
mug;  *one  shoe-brush;  *one  razor;  *one  razor  strop;  *two  pairs  of 
white  suspenders;  *six  white  shirts;  *two  night  shirts;  *six  summer 
under-shirts;  *six  winter  under-shirts;  *six  pairs  of  summer  drawers; 
*six  pairs  of  winter  drawers;  *six  pairs  of  summer  socks;  *six  pairs  of 
winter  socks;  *six  pocket  handkerchiefs:  *six  pairs  of  cuffs;  twelve 
white  linen  collars;  six  pairs  of  white  Berlin  gloves;  two  sets  of  white 
belts;  one  chair;  *one  pen  knife;  one  account  book;  *one  trunk. 

Candidates  are  authorized  to  bring  with  them  the  articles  marked*; 
they  are  however  informed  that  such  articles  can  be  purchased  at 
regulated  prices  from  the  Cadet  Quartermaster's  Department  at  West 
Point,  after  their  arrival. 

Cadets  are  required  to  wear  the  prescribed  uniform.  All  articles 
of  their  uniform  are  of  a  designated  pattern,  and  are  sold  to  Cadets 
at  West  Point  at  regulated  prices. 

Expenses  of  Candidates  Prior  to  Admission. 

The  expenses  of  a  candidate  for  board,  washing,  lights,  &c.,  after 
he  has  reported  and  prior  to  admission,  will  be  about  $10.  Immedi- 
ately after  being  admitted  to  the  institution  he  must  be  provided  with 
an  outfit  or  uniform,  the  cost  of  which  will  be  about  $90,  making  a 
total  sum  of  $100,  which  must  be  deposited  with  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Academy  before  the  candidate  is  admitted.  It  is  best  for  a  candidate 
to  take  with  him  no  more  money  than  will  defray  his  traveling  ex- 
penses, and  for  the  parent  or  guardian  to  send  to  ' '  The  Treasurer  of 
the  U.  S.  Military  Academy"  the  required  deposit  of  $100.     Any 


CADET   LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


deviation  from  the  rule  as  to  the  amount  or  manner  of  making  the  de- 
posit must  be  explained  in  writing  by  the  parent  or  guardian  of  the 
candidate  to  the  Superintendent  of  the  Academy. 

Assignment  to  Corps  After  Graduation. 

The  attention  of  applicants  and  candidates  is  called  to  the  follow- 
ing provisions  of  the  Act  of  Congress  approved  May  17,  1886,  to  regu- 
late the  promotion  of  graduates  of  the  United  States  Military 
Academy: 

"That  when  any  cadet  of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  has 
gone  through  all  its  classes  and  received  a  regular  diploma  from  the 
Academic  Staff,  he  may  be  promoted  and  commissioned  as  a  second 
lieutenant  in  any  arm  or  corps  of  the  army  in  which  there  may  be  a 
vacancy  and  the  duties  of  which  he  may  have  been  judged  competent 
to  perform;  and  in  case  there  shall  not  at  the  time  be  a  vacancy  in  such 
arm  or  corps,  he  may,  at  the  discretion  of  the  President,  be  promoted 
and  commissioned  in  it  as  an  additional  second  lieutenant,  with  the 
usual  pay  and  allowances  of  a  second  lieutenant,  until  a  vacancy  shall 
happen." 

General  Qualifications. 

A  sound  body  and  constitution,  suitable  preparation,  good  natural 
capacity,  an  aptitude  for  study,  industrious  habits,  perseverance,  and 
obedient  and  orderly  disposition,  and  a  correct  moral  deportment  are 
such  essential  qualifications  that  candidates  knowingly  deficient  in 
any  of  these  respects,  should  not,  as  many  do,  subject  themselves  and 
their  friends  to  the  chances  of  future  mortification  and  disappointment 
by  accepting  appointments  at  the  Academy  and  entering  upon  a  career 
which  they  candot  successfully  pursue. 

Candidates  Failing. 

No  cadet  who  is  reported  as  deficient,  in  either  conduct  or  studies, 
and  recommended  to  be  discharged  from  the  Academy,  shall,  unless 
upon  recommendation  of  the  Academic  Board,  be  returned  or  reap- 
pointed or  be  appointed  to  any  place  in  the  army  before  his  class 
shall  have  left  the  Academy  and  received  their  commissions. — [Sec- 
tion 1325,  Revised  Statutes  United  States.] 


APPENDIX.  xiii 

INSTRUCTIONS  TO  CANDIDATES  * 
Each  candidate  on  arrival  at  the  Military  Academy  will — 

1.  On  reporting  to  the  Adjutant  present  for  examination  his 
letter  of  appointment.     Subsequently  he  will  be  called  upon  to — 

2.  Register. 

(I.)  Name,  clearly  and  in  full;  age  (in  years  and  months);  place 
of  residence  (postoffice,  county  and  state);  district  from  w  hich  ap 
pointed;  where  born  (state  or  territory);  name  and  address  of  parents 
or  guardian;  date  of  birth. 

(II.)  Are  both  parents  living,  nationality  of  each,  etc.;  profes- 
sion or  occupation  of  parent  or  guardian;  circumstances  of  parent  or 
guardian,  whether  affluent,  moderate,  reduced,  or  indigent;  whether 
candidate  is  from  the  country,  town  or  city;  appointment,  how  ob- 
tained, whether  by  competitive  examination  or  direct  appointment; 
if  by  competitive  examination,  how  many  competitors  (including  self); 
also  whether  he  has  ever  previously  reported  as  a  candidate  at  the 
Military  Academy. 

Common  School. 

High  School. 

Common  School, 
igh  School. 


Time  in   years  and 


Public  School ] 


Private  School  ....•<   tt- 


months  of  attend-  <j  Normal  School  or  Academy. 

ance  at College. 

Time  employed  in  private  study  within  the  last 

five  years. 
^  Time  engaged  as  teacher. 

3.  The  candidate  will  then  be  sent  under  charge  of  an  orderly  to 
the  Medical  Board  for  physical  examination,  and  upon  returning  will 
present  to  the  Adjutant  the  report  of  the  same.  Should  this  be  satis- 
factory— 

4.  The  candtdate  will  then  be  sent  to  the  Treasurer  to  deposit  all 
the  funds  in  his  possession.  The  memorandum  received  from  the 
Treasurer  will  be  presented  to  the  adjutant. 

5.  The  candidate  will  then  he  sent  to  the  cadet  barracks  to  report 
to  the  officer  in  charge  of  new  cadets. 

6.  It  is  important  that  the  data  called  for  in  registering  be  given 
truthfully  and  as  accurately  as  possible.  This  information,  so  far  as 
it  relates  to  the  individual  candidates,  is  not  for  publication,  these 
records  being  considered  confidential. 

*This  is  handed  to  candidates  in  the  Adjutant's  office  after  their 
arrival  at  West  Point, 


XIV 


CADET   LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT. 


TABLE  SHOWING  DISPOSITION  OF  CANDIDATES. 


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APPENDIX. 


TABLE  SHOWING  DISPOSITION  OF  CANDIDATES  —  Con^nwed. 


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2,605 
84 
114 
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60 
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6 
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XVI 


CADET    LIFE    AT    WEST   POINT. 


TABLE  SHOWING  DISPOSITION  OF  CANDIDATES  -  Continued. 


■  1    -d 

^ 

GRADUATED. 

^ 

1 

c3 

3 

1?     « 

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a 

-c 

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1 

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59 

47 

2,336 
34 

489 
3 

29 

4 

3,024 
37 

50          7 
50          6 

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139 

115 

63     32 

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1.... 

200 

152 

85 



.. 

.. 

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7 

.. 

43 

56     22 

50          3 

...       1 

2.... 

216 

192 

129 



70 

5 

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3.... 

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209 

141 



.. 

59 

8 

.. 

67 

67 

34     48          9 

...       3 

4.... 

178 

155 

100 



36 

6 

42 

65 

27 

42 

4 

4 

5.... 

171 

143 

95 



.. 

42 

3 

45 

66 

31 

47 

6 

...       5 

6.... 

215 

190 

128 

.. 

51 

11 

62 

67 

33 

4« 

10 

...       6 

7.... 

256 

210 

127 

., 

.. 

54 

11 

65 

60 

31 

51 

9 

-.-       7 

8.... 

210 

181 

101 

.. 

.. 

.. 

51 

6 

57 

55 

31 

.56 

6 

...      8 

9.... 

231 

196 

96 

,. 

45 

11 

1 

57 

49 

29 

6(1 

7 

...       9 

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198 

175 

81 

«.. 

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51 

46 

29 

63 

11 

...  1890 

1— . 

209 

161 

97 



.. 

.. 

.. 

43 

9 

52 

60 

3? 

.54 

9 

...       1 

2.... 

302 
326 
303 
327 
308 

258 
268 
258 
282 
248 

114j    6 
108'  68 
101    67 
105:  80 
110110 

- 

-- 

-- 

64 

64 

44 
40 
39 
37 
44 

15 
10 
12 

17 
18 

2 

3 

3 

4.... 

4 

5.... 

...       5 

6.... 

6 

30 

'' 

Total.. 

7,798 

asi 

60 

59 

47 

2,964  577 

3,741 

48 

167 

..Total 

APPENDIX.  xvii 

COURSE    OF    STUDY    AND    BOOKS    USED   AT    THE  MILI- 
TARY  ACADEMY4 

First  Year. — Fourth  Class. 

Mathematics:  Hours  of  recitation,  334^^;  hours  of  study,  669; 
total  hours,  1,003^.  Text  books:  Davies'  Elements  of  Algebra,  Da- 
vies'  Legendre's  Geometry,  Ludlow's  Elements  of  Trigonometry, 
Davies'  Surveying,  Church's  Analytical  Geometry,  Ludlow's  Loga- 
rithmic Tables.* 

Modern  Languages:  Hours  of  recitation,  185;  hours  of  study  376; 
total  hours,  555.  Text  books:  Williams'  Composition  and  Rhetoric, 
Abbott's  How  to  Write  Clearly,  Meikeljohn's  English  Language, 
Smith's  Synonyms  Discriminated,*  Roget's  Thesaurus  of  English 
Words,*  Webster's  Dictionary,*  De  Peiffer's  French  Pronunciation, 
Keetels'  Analytical  and  Practical  French  Grammar,  Castarede's  Treat- 
ise on  the  Conjugation  of  French  Verbs,  Roemer's  Cours  de  Lecture 
et  de  Traduction  Vol.  I.,  Bocher's  College  Series  of  French  Plays- 
Vol.  II.,  Spiers'  and  Surenne's  French  Pronouncing  Dictionary.* 

Drill  Regulations,  U.  S.  Army:  Practical  instruction,  infantry 
46  hours;  artillery,  35  hours;  total  hours,  81.  Infantry,  Practical 
Instruction  in  the  Schools  of  the  Soldier,  Company  and  Battalion; 
Siege  and  Light  Artillery,  Practical  Instruction  in  the  School  of  the 
Cannoneer.     Blunt's  Firing  Regulations  for  Small  Arms.* 

Use  of  Sword,  etc.:  Practical  instruction,  147^  hours.  Instruc- 
tion in  Fencing  and  Bayonet  Exercise,  and  Military  Engineering. 

Second  Year. — Third  Class. 

Mathematics:  Hours  of  recitation,  334^;  hours  of  study,  669; 
total  hours,  1,003^.  Text  books:  Church's  Analytical  Geometry, 
Church's  Descriptive  Geometry,  with  its  application  to  Spherical  Pro- 
jections, Shades,  Shadows  and  Perspective,  Bass'  Differential  Calcu- 
lus, Church's  Integral  Calculus,  Johnson's  Treatise  on  the  Method  of 
Least  Squares. 

Modern  Languages:  Hours  of  recitation,  223;  hours  of  study,  446; 
total  hours,  669.  Textbooks:  Borel's  Grammaire  Francaise,  Henne- 
quin's  Lessons  in  Idiomatic  French,  Revue  Militaire  de  I'Etranger, 
the  Weekly  Figaro,  Edgren's  Compendious  French  Grammar, 
De  Peiffer's  French  Pronunciation,*  Spiers'  and  Surenne's  French 
Pronouncing  Dictionary,*  Monsant-o  and  Languellier's  Spanish  Gram- 

tRevised  to  June  i,  1896.     '^Books  of  reference. 


xviii  CADET  LIFE   AT  WEST  POfNT. 

mar,  Knapp's  Spanish  Grammar,  Mantilla's  Spanish  Reader  No.  3, 
Knapp's  Spanish  Reader,  Eco  de  Madrid,  Seoane's  Neumann  and 
Baretti's  Spanish  Dictionary.* 

Drawing:  Hours  of  recitation,  288.  Constructive  problems  in 
Plane  Geometry,  point  paths,  topography  and  plotting  of  surveys  with 
lead  pencil,  pen  and  ink,  and  colors,  construction  of  the  various  prob- 
lems in  Descriptive  Geometry,  shades  and  shadows,  and  linear  per- 
spective and  isometric  projections,  practical  surveying  in  the  field. 
Reed's  Topographical  Drawing  and  Sketching,  including  Photography 
Applied  to  Surveying.* 

Drill  Regulations,  U.  S.  Army:  Practical  instruction,  infantry  ^6 
hours;  artillery,  35  hours;  cavalry,  46  hours;  total  hours,  127.  In- 
fantry, practical  instruction  in  the  schools  of  the  soldier,  company 
and  battalion;  light  artillery,  practical  instruction  in  the  school  of  the 
cannoneer;  cavalry,  practical  instruction  in  the  school  of  the  trooper. 
Blunt's  Firing  Regulations  for  Small  Arms.* 

Practical  Military  Engineering:  Practical  work  in  July  and  Aug- 
ust. Practical  instruction  in  the  construction  of  ponton,  spar  and 
trestle  bridges. 

Third  Year. — Second  Class. 

Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy:  Hours  of  recitation,  334^^ 
hours;  hours  of  study,  669;  total  hours,  1,003^.  Text  books: 
Michie's  Analytical  Mechanics,  Michie  and  Harlow's  Practical  As- 
tronomy, Young's  General  Astronomy,  Michie's  Elements  of  Wave 
Motion  Relating  to  Sound  and  Light. 

Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and  Geology:  Hours  of  recitation,  188^; 
hours  of  study,  377;  total  hours,  565^.  Text  books:  Bloxam's 
Chemistry  (8th  Edition),  Tillman's  Elementary  Lessons  in  Heat  (2d 
Edition),  Tillman's  Essential  Principles  of  Chemistry,  Tracy's  Anat- 
omy, Physiology  and  Hygiene,  Thompson's  Elementary  Lessons  in 
Electricity  and  Magnetism  (new  and  revised  edition),  Tillman's  Ele- 
mentary Text  Book  of  Mineralogy,  LeConte's  Elements  of  Geology 
'(3d  Edition). 

Drawing:  Hours  of  recitation,  185.  Free  hand  drawing  and 
landscape  in  black  and  white,  mechanical  and  architectural  drawing 
in  ink  and  colors,  constructive  details,  ordnance  constructions. 
Reed's  Topographical  Drawing  and  Sketching,  including  Photography 
Applied  to  Surveying.* 


*Books  of  reference. 


APPENDIX.  six 

Drill  Regulations,  U.  S.  Army:  Hours  of  recitation,  i8j^ ;  hours 
of  study,  37.  Practical  instruction:  Infantry,  41  hours;  artillery, 
17/^  hours;  cavalry,  6i}4  hours;  total  hours,  175^^.  Text  books: 
United  States  Army  Artillery  Drill  Regulations,  Tidball's  Manual  of 
Heavy  Artillery  Service,  U.  S.  A.,  United  States  Army  Cavalry  Drill 
Regulations,  United  States  Army  Infantry  Drill  Regulations.  Infan- 
try, practical  instruction  in  the  schools  of  the  soldier,  company  and 
battalion;  sea  coast  artillery,  practical  instruction  in  the  school  of  the 
cannoneer;  cavalry,  practical  instruction  in  the  schools  of  the 
trooper,  troop  and  squadron. 

Practical  Military  Engineering:  Practical  instruction,  17^  hours. 
Practical  instruction  in  the  construction  of  ponton  bridges,  in  laying 
gun  platforms,  and  in  the  construction  of  revetments  and  obstacles; 
practical  and  theoretical  instruction  in  military  signaling. 
Fourth  Year. — First  Class. 

Civil  and  Military  Engineering  and  Science  of  War:  Hours  of 
recitation,  334^;  hours  of  study,  66g;  total  hours,  1,003^.  Text 
books:  Wheeler's  Civil  Engineering,  Wheeler's  Field  Fortifications, 
Mercur's  .Mahan's  Permanent  Fortifications  (Edition  of  1887),  Mer- 
cur's  Attack  of  Fortified  Places,  Mercur's  Elements  of  the  Art  of  War, 
Mahan's  Stereotomy. 

Modern  Languages:  Hours  of  recitation,  50^;  hours  of  study, 
loi;  total  hours,  151/^.  Text  books;  Knapp's  Spanish  Grammar, 
Knapp's  Spanish  Readings,  Seoane's  Neumann  and  Baretti's  Dic- 
tionary.* 

Law:  Hours  of  recitation,  92^;  hours  of  study,  185;  total  hours, 
277/^.  Text  books:  Davis's  International  Law,  Cooley's  General 
Principles  of  Constitutional  Law  in  the  United  States,  Winthrop's 
Abridgment  of  Military  Law,  General  Orders  No.  100,  A,  G.  O.,  1863. 

History,  Geography  and  Ethics:  Hours  of  recitation,  42;  hours  of 
study,  82;  total  hours,  126.  Text  books:  Swinton's  Outlines  of  the 
World's  History,  Labberton's  New  Historical  Atlas  and  General 
History.* 

Practical  Military  Engineering.  Hours  of  practical  instruction, 
24',^.  Practical  instruction  in  the  construction  of  ponton,  trestle  and 
spar  bridges,  in  the  preparation  and  application  of  siege  materials, 
and  in  laying  out  field  and  siege  works;  practical  instruction  in  mill" 
tary  reconnaissances  on  foot  and  mounted,  in  field  telegraphy,  night 
signaling,  and  the  use  of  the  heliograph.  Ernst's  Manual  of  Practical 
Military  Engineering.* 

*Books  of  reference. 


XX  CADET  LIFE  AT   WEST  POINT. 

Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy.  Practical  instruction  in 
camp.     Practical  instruction  in  astronomy 

Drill  regulations,  U.  S  Army,  Hours  of  instruction,  infantry  36 
hours;  artillery,  17!^  hours;  cavalry,  joi}4  hours;  total  hours,  277)^. 
Infantry,  practical  instruction  in  the  schools  of  the  soldier,  company 
and  battalion;  cavalry,  practical  instruction  in  the  schools  of  the 
trooper,  troop  and  squadron;  artillery,  practical  instruction  in  the 
school  of  the  battery 

Ordnance  and  Gunnery:  Hours  of  recitation,  92^;  hours  of  study, 
185;  total  hours,  277%.  Text  books;  Bruff's  Gunpowder  and  Interior 
Ballistics,  Bruff's  Grdnance  and  Gunnery  Ingall's  System  of  Exterior 
Ballistics. 

CLASS  RANK  OR  STANDING 

Class  rank  or  standing  is  determined  by  adding  together  the  stand- 
ing of  each  cadet  in  all  of  the  studies_he  has  been  examined  in  and  in 
disciplme,  and  then  the  cadet  havmg  the  highest  figure  of  general 
merit  is  first  in  class  rank  the  next  second  and  soon,  as  indicated 
in  the  following  table,  to- wit  . 


MERIT  IN 

d 

c 
'So 

>. 

c 

'So 

a 

a 

(U 

n 

Ph7=^ 

W 

a 

W 

i- 

Cadets. 

in 

a 
0 

3 
0 

c 

rt 

in 
B 

J3 

0 

a 

W  0- 
_  0 

X!        - 
-    ID 

«  c 

"3 

tab 

C 

rt  .5 

xi 
■J) 

c 

0 

fl 

1 

"rt  Cub 
0  c 

"a, 

^ 
rt 

a 

Ss 

'ui 

5 

_■  1-1 

>    V 

'S 

a 
ca 

^' 

a 

2  "" 

0 

in 

u 

^ 

0 

iz; 

u 

0 

Q 

0 

10 

u-i 

n 

0 
10 

fe 

0 

0 

Maximum  in 

0 

0 

10 

0 

U1 

each  branch .  . 

0 

i^ 

iri 

0 

m 

0 

M 

0 

m 

t^ 

>. 

in 

M 

■<1- 

0 

Reed's  Four  Deck  Boards  for 


DUPLICATE. 
CLUB  AND 
CLUB  DUPLICATE 
GAMES  OF 
CINCH 


J     REED'S 

Id!  Id  duplicate 


^^■KtW^H 


EUC^HRE  Igl   jgj 


15555551  i^^^l 


DUPLICATE, 

CLUB  AND 

CLUB  DUPLICATE 

GAMES  OF 

EUCHRE 


Two  decks  on  each  side. 
DUPLICATE,    CLUB   AND    CLUB    DUPLICATE 

WHIST 

And  Other  Games.   All   Played   with   Reed   Boards. 

The  cut  shows  one  side  of  a  board  with  two  decks  of 
cards  dealt  into  hands  ready  to  play.  Each  board  is 
arranged  for  four  decks,  two  on  a  side,  and  it  has  Rules  for 

DUPLICATE  AND  PROGRESSIVE  GAMES  printed  on  it. 

The  boards  are  eleven  inches  square,  cloth  bound,  light 

and  strong,  and  they  are  the  only  boards  made  to  be  used 

FOR  PLAYING  MORE  THAN  ONE  GAME. 

Hence  they  are  the  cheapest  boards  to  buy. 
Four  boards  make  a  set,  but 
ANY  NUMBER  OF  BOARDS  MAY  BE  USED. 

The  \^  Sets,  %  Sets  and  Sets,  are  each  packed 

IN  A  HANDSOME   CLOTH   BOX 

with  a  set  of  chips  and  a  package  of  score  sheets  (one  side 
ruled  for  Duplicate  Games  and  the  other  for  Progressive 
Games.) 
$1.25  per  Board;  1)52.25  per  Board  with  {  4  decks)  Cards. 

3.50  per  Yi  Set;     5.50  per  Yz  Set  with  (  8  decks)  Cards. 

4.75  per  %  Set;     7.75  per  %  Set  with  (12  decks)  Cards. 

6.00  per  Set;        10.00  per  Set      with  (16  decks)  Cards. 

Chips,  25  cents  per  set;  Score  Sheets,  25  cents  per  pack- 
age; fine  enameled  Cards,  25  cents  per  deck. 


JUST  OUT ! 

CADET  LIFE  AT  WEST  POINT 

BY 

LIEUT.  HUGH  T.  REED,  U.  S.  ARMY. 


HANDSOMELY  ILLUSTRATED. 


This  book  Is  replete  with  short  stories  and  infor- 
mation   about— 

How  to  get  an  appointment  to  West  Point, 

The  entrance  examination, 

The  chances  to  be  admitted  and  to  graduate, 

The  course  of  study,  and 

The  daily  life  of  the  cadets  there. 

PRICE    LIST: 

Reed's  Cadet  Life  at  West  Point.    Cloth $1.50 

Reed's  Military  Science  and  Tactics.    Leather 1.50 

Reed's  Standard  Signal  Tactics.    Paper 40 

Reed's  Broom  Tactics.     Paper 25 

U.  S.  Infantry  Drill  Regulations.     Paper 25 

U.  S.  Infantry  Drill  Regulations.     Leather 75 

U.  S.  Artillery  Drill  Regulations.     Leather 1.00 

U.  S.  Cavalry  Drill  Regulations.     Leather 1.25 

Official  Manual  of  Guard  Duty.    Boards 25 

Gilchrist's  Manual  for  Infantry  Officers.    Cloth...  1.00 

Hoyne's  First  Sergeant's  Roll  Book.    Leather 1.00 

Blunt's     Firing     Regulations     for     Small     Arms. 

Leather 2.25 

Powers'  Display  Movements.    Paper 50 

Reed's  Standard  Infantry  Tactics  and  Reed's  Light 
Artillery  Tactics  are  out  of  print,  but  Reed's  Military 
Science  and  Tactics  contains  both  of  them.  • 

Books  mailed  on  receipt  of  price. 

Remit  in  money  orders,  drafts,  Ic  or  2c  stamps,  or 
currency. 

HUGH  T.  REED, 

lb  State  Street,  Chicago. 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGiONAL  LiBRARY  FACiLiTY 

405  Hiigard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  iit>rary 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


mm  wm 

NOV  1  4  2000 

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